Can extreme heat cause schizophrenia and depression? What new study shows – Firstpost

Climate change means humans are going to have to contend with increasingly hotter temperatures.

While this will no doubt be a physical burden, a new study has suggested that extreme heat could also result in mental disorders.

The study, from Australia, warns that high temperatures are already putting thousands of people at risk for mental health issues already.

It says the number of people at risk for mental and behavioural disorders (MBD) could drastically increase by 2050.

The study comes in the backdrop of Australia experiencing more frequent and stronger heatwaves.

But what does the study say exactly? What do experts think?

Let’s take a closer look:

What do we know?

As per The Independent, the research was published in Nature Climate Change on Monday.

It was conducted by scientists from University of Adelaide’s school of public health.

The study utilised disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to represent years of life lost and years lived with illness to calculate the mental health toll of high temperatures.

The study said heat currently results in over 8,450 healthy life years in Australia being lost every year.

That figure comprises around 1.8 per cent of the country’s total mental and behavioural disorder burden.

Researchers say this figure could soar by 50 per cent as a result of rising temperatures.

MBDs comprise anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, alcohol and drug use disorders, and other mental and substance use disorders, as per Science Alert.

The data was taken from across Australia between 2003 and 2018.

As per NDTV, the study found regions closer to the Equator face higher risks.

As per the website, if global warming is kept below the three degrees Celsius mark by 2100 (compared to pre-industrial levels), MBDs may rise 11 per cent in the 2030s and 27.5 per cent in the 2050s.

As per The Independent, if the world does not manage to keep emissions under control, the MBDs from extreme heat could rise by 49 per cent. Keeping population growth in mind, that figure could touch 141 per cent.

However, the study also states better housing, early warning systems, access to cooling, and green spaces could make an impact – reducing MBDs from 141 per cent to 65 per cent by 2050.

Scientists say changes in blood temperature can affect how much oxygen goes to the central nervous system. High temperatures may also affect sleep patterns and stress responses – all of which can impact mental health.

“From mild distress to serious conditions like schizophrenia, rising temperatures are making things harder for millions,” Dr Peng Bi, lead author of the study, said.

“The detrimental impacts of
climate change on good mental health and emotional states have been increasingly recognised worldwide, and it’s only going to get worse unless we act,” Bi added.

‘Young people especially at risk’

As per Scienceblog.org, Australians between the ages of 15  and 44 are especially vulnerable.

“Our findings show that climate change will drive up mental health challenges beyond what population growth alone would cause,” first author Dr Jingwen Liu was quoted as saying by MedicalXpress.

“Young people, who often face these issues early in life, are especially at risk as the climate crisis worsens.”

“Considering the early onset of MBDs among the current younger people, coupled with the additional mental burden arising from climate crises, it is imperative to foster resilience,” Liu added.

“This necessitates a deeper understanding of how high temperature might affect mental health, empowering public health professionals and healthcare practitioners with the necessary knowledge and tools to safeguard communities… especially as global warming is projected to persist and accelerate.”

The researchers asked the government to take several steps to address these issues.

These included formulating heat-health action plans to set up health care systems to meet rising mental health needs, localised solutions such as community programs and green spaces to build resilience and support for the vulnerable.

“These results underscore the crucial role of policymakers in developing focused public health interventions to minimise the emergence of mental health impacts of climate change, given its significant human, social and financial consequences,” Bi said.

“About 8.6 million Australians aged 16 to 85 will experience an MBD within their lifetime. Factors like income, access to health care, and local conditions shape how heat affects mental health, with some areas hit harder than others.”

“This isn’t just about health—it’s about building stronger, more resilient communities for the future,” Bi concluded.

With inputs from agencies