The world is not ready for mental health in extreme heat
Temperatures rise, and so are mental health hazards
A person walking with an umbrella to protect himself from heat as a yellow alert is released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) due to increasing temperatures of London, 2024.
Rasid Necati Asim / Anadolu by Getty Images
The coming summer is a score across US and climate scientists predict at least one of the next five years will succeed in 2024 as The warmest year recorded around the world. As the waves of waves are increasing and lasting, their Impact of mind and body also become larger. Children and older people, as well as those who work outside, more dangerous. As well as those who have mental health diseases.
The waves heats are one highest caused by death associated with US era, which is estimated to be 1,300 fatalities from heat stroke and other temperature-related complications. Even those who have endured a period of intense heat can suffer severe neurological or other mental health diseases.
A new study published in Current environmental reports of environmental Found that the world is more unprepared to deal with the consequences of mental health of climate change. In 83 action plans for Heal-related health Problems checked for the study, fewer than one third recognized the effects of mental health effects in intense or long temperatures. And only fifth in these plans promote specific actions to deal with contingencies such as additional hospitals for mental health disorders.
In support of science journalism
If you enjoy this article, think about supporting our winning journalism in Subscribe. By purchasing a subscription you helped to ensure the future of influential stories about the discoveries and ideas that make our world today.
How can severe heat affect the brain?
The human body moves optimal at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). If a person does not drink enough water if the weather is hot and dry, the body can be harassed, the blood is able to get enough oxygen in the brain. In addition, human brain burns 20 percent of body strength and therefore need to break the heat smooth. In warm and humid conditions, sweats can not cool the body and adequate brain. This can lead to heat exhaustion, with symptoms such as weakness, headfast and headache and, in extreme cases – to excite consciousness and loss of consciousness. A significant part of the heat stroke survivor suffered neurological complications.
The exposure of extreme heat can also increase suicide risk and sin in Schizophrenia, epilepsy, depression, soul content, such as alzheimer) and negative emotions like fear and anger. Sleep can get worse, which, in turn, can increase fatigue and disconnect. Drugs of alcohol and entertainment, as well as some drugs used to care for mental illness, such as antidepressants, tranquilizers and antipsychotics and antipsychotics, also appeared to increase the heat of mental health.
Studies found an increased risk of suicidal and epileptic seizures during the heat of the waves, as well as a increase in hospitals and emergency emergency evolutions for mental health disorders. The heat can also be broken-minded, making people feel slow to realize they should seek shelter or help.
Who is most at risk?
The most rotten are those with mental health diseases. Terrific, long hot waves also show that children’s risk gets worse – and even unborn – to develop mental health disorders. Older people can also be affected, such as accelerated Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
In particular hazard the many populations around the world live without air-conditioning, including poor or homeless and those who work outside, like farms.
What can be done?
The authors of the new Current environmental reports of environmental Study the principal of interventions on many levels to help communities and individuals are more risky to climate mental effects. It may include public awareness campaigns, as people warn about the risk of mental health to consume alcohol or other drugs during heat waves. Other interventions include establishing cooling shouling shouling in community for heat emergencies and increases to monitor mental health patients during health waves. Extreme heat is here to stay, at least for future future. We need to prepare people and communities to reduce the risk of mental health emergencies.
If you need help
If you or someone you know is struggling or have suicide thoughts, help is available. Call or text 988 suicide and crisis lifeline in 988 or online use Lifeline Start.
