As global temperatures continue to rise, the effects of extreme heat on physical health are well known, with dehydration, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion being common consequences.

However, the impact of extreme heat on mental health is less known, but equally worrying.

Dr. Madhusudan Singh Solanki, Senior Consultant and Head, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Max Smart Superspeciality Hospital, Saket, said that the rising temperatures due to global warming are bound to affect the physical and mental health of people.

The mental health effects of high temperatures can be serious, ranging from irritability and confusion to more serious conditions such as agitation, behaviour or mood changes, and even hallucinations due to heat stroke.

Prolonged exposure to heat waves can cause heat stress, a condition in which the body is unable to cool itself effectively.

This can lead to a variety of mental health problems such as poor sleep, stress, anxiety, mood swings and depression. For people suffering from mental health problems such as insomnia, anxiety or depression, the effects can be even more severe.

Dr. Solanki said, “Continuous exposure to heat waves can also lead to difficulty in focusing, concentrating and memory impairment, thus affecting productivity at work or study.” This is particularly worrying given the increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves due to climate change.

Research indicates a worrying trend: an increase in hospital admissions for mental health problems such as depression and bipolar disorder during the summer season. “Studies have also reported higher rates of suicide in months with higher temperatures,” Dr. Solanki said.

This correlation underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and proactive measures to address the mental health impacts of extreme heat.

Excessive heat may increase aggression and decrease frustration tolerance, leading to increased interpersonal conflict.

“Heat waves can increase aggression and reduce frustration tolerance, resulting in increased incidence of interpersonal conflicts such as road rage, fights, rape and domestic violence,” Dr Solanki said.

This highlights the broader societal impacts of rising temperatures, which go beyond individual health to also affect community well-being.

Certain groups are more vulnerable to the negative mental health impacts of heat waves. “People with pre-existing mental health issues, children and the elderly, people who work outdoors for long periods of time and people who do not have access to a comfortable temperature environment at home or workplace are more vulnerable,” Dr Solanki said.

It is important to ensure that these populations receive adequate support and protection as we face the challenges posed by a warming world.

“Although the physical conditions caused by heat waves are known to everyone, there is a lack of awareness about the impact of high temperatures on mental health,” Dr Solanki stressed.