Climate change impacts us in ways we may not realize. It affects what we see outside and how our bodies react. More people are recognizing its toll, with 64% of Americans expressing concern and 1 in 10 experiencing anxiety or depression related to climate change, prompting some to seek assistance.
Climate change has the potential to significantly impact mental health and overall well-being, whether individuals encounter it first-hand through natural disasters or hold concerns about its future consequences.
Heatwaves, dust storms, and air pollution have been identified as factors that have the potential to negatively affect human well-being. These effects can manifest as irritability, aggression, depression, and psychotic disorders, as well as impairments in cognitive abilities. These detrimental consequences can be associated with the rising levels of CO2 in the environment.
According to Michael Ranney, a cognitive psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, climate change can be considered a significant experiment that humanity is presently undertaking.
According to NASA, data shows that last summer was the warmest since 1880, and there is a possibility that another summer with unprecedented temperatures is currently underway. Studying and comprehending the potential mental health impacts associated with extreme heat, air pollution, and elevated CO2 levels, as well as adopting protective measures, are of significant importance.
Hot Enough to Fry Your Mood
A study in 2022 showed a link between hot days and more hospital visits for mental health problems like anxiety, schizophrenia, self-harm, and child behavioral disorders. Heatwaves also lead to higher suicide rates. A meta-analysis found that for every 1.8-degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature, there was a 1% rise in suicide cases.
Heatwaves can cause irritability and increased violence, as observed by Belgian astronomer Adolphe Quetelet in the 1800s, when he noticed a spike in violent crime during heatwaves in France.
Heat is linked to crime in numerous studies, including Chicago heatwaves and hate messages on Twitter.
Extreme heat affects not only humans but also animals. Dogs tend to bite more on hot days, while various species like magpies and bumblebees become disoriented and less effective.
Research on extreme heat and mental health primarily focuses on the correlation between weather data and crime statistics, lacking evidence of causation. Limited experimental studies have shown that police officers training in hot conditions were more prone to using their weapons compared to those training in cooler environments.
According to Anderson, conducting such studies can be intricate and costly, not to mention ethically questionable. Subjecting volunteers to extreme heat or providing them with weapons for the sake of observing the outcomes is something no one desires.
Heat can impact emotions through physiological mechanisms. High temperatures can disturb sleep, which is closely tied to mental health. Restless nights caused by heat may lead to more negative moods, increased irritability, and worsened mental health conditions like schizophrenia (2021 review).
Heatwaves increase ozone and the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, affecting mood-related neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Finnish scientists found that temperature increases are linked to changes in the serotonin system, potentially increasing impulsivity and crime rates.