•  ‘For every 1C increase in temperature, there is roughly a 1% increase in the risk of suicide,’ says Neil Jennings of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London

• Stress of environmental degradation, displacement, rising temperatures, or worsening air quality can ‘slowly wear away at people’s psychological well-being,’ says Dorina Cadar, a leading researcher in neuroepidemiology and dementia
  
• There is growing evidence of climate anxiety being ‘especially common among younger people and those who feel powerless in the face of global environmental changes,’ says Cadar

ISTANBUL

As the world grapples with raging wildfires, soaring temperatures, and deadly floods, experts are raising alarms over a less visible crisis: the profound impact of climate change on mental health.

All continents are facing devastating floods, wildfires, extreme heat waves, and other climate disasters, and the psychological toll for the billions impacted is intensifying.

“Climate change can have a profound effect on mental health through both direct and indirect pathways,” Dorina Cadar, a leading researcher in neuroepidemiology and dementia, told Anadolu.

People directly exposed to extreme weather events such as floods, wildfires, hurricanes, or heat waves often experience acute stress and trauma, which can manifest as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), she explained.

Climate expert Neil Jennings also highlighted the historic neglect of the connection between climate change and mental health.

“Climate change is having an impact on health-related outcomes … (in) both physical health and mental health,” Jennings, who is associated with the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London, told Anadolu.

But mental health “historically has received less attention than physical health,” he said.

Mood changes to suicide risks

Record-breaking temperatures have scorched large parts of the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia, the US, and the Middle East in recent weeks, with forecasters warning of prolonged heat waves.

“Heat waves are often overlooked in terms of mental health research, yet these have been linked to changes in mood, increased aggression, disturbed sleep, and a rise in hospital admissions for people with existing mental health conditions,” said Cadar, director of the Cognitive Epidemiology, Dementia, and Ageing Research (CEDAR) lab at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

Along with these effects, Jennings pointed out that extreme heat even leads to elevated suicide risk. “We know that for every 1C increase in temperature, there is roughly a 1% increase in the risk of suicide,” he warned.

Past research has found that every 1C increase in monthly average temperature led to a 2.2% spike in mental health-related deaths, while increases in relative humidity also pushed up suicide rates.

Jennings emphasized that certain occupational groups, such as outdoor laborers, construction workers, and farmers, face additional mental health risks.

Farmers, for instance, often experience significant psychological stress due to crop losses from extreme heat, floods, and wildfires, he added.

Other extreme weather events also take a heavy toll on mental health. Floods and hurricanes, for instance, often trigger PTSD symptoms long after the events have passed.

“The emotional shock of losing one’s home or being displaced, combined with the slow and difficult recovery process, can leave a lasting psychological impact,” said Cadar.

“Studies have reported PTSD rates as high as 30% in flood-affected populations.”

Wildfires, too, are associated with increased anxiety, depression, and substance use, especially among evacuees and first responders. The unpredictability and rapid spread of wildfires can leave communities feeling powerless and traumatized.

While droughts might seem less dramatic, she added, they also lead to chronic stress, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts, particularly among farming communities whose livelihoods depend on climate-sensitive environments.

Who is most vulnerable?

Although climate-related mental illnesses can affect anyone, research clearly shows that certain groups are especially vulnerable.

Cadar noted that older adults, particularly those with dementia or cardiovascular disease, are at high risk, as they may struggle to regulate body temperature or access assistance during heat waves.

People with pre-existing mental illnesses are also vulnerable, as they may have difficulty recognizing or responding to early signs of heat-related distress, she said.

Low-income individuals who lack access to cooling systems, live in poorly insulated housing, or work outdoors face additional risks.

Children and adolescents, who are more sensitive to environmental changes and disruptions, can also suffer from emotional distress, Cadar added.

Urban populations, she explained, are particularly vulnerable due to the “urban heat island” effect, where dense infrastructure and limited green spaces lead to higher temperatures in cities.

“High temperatures can worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders, and may even increase the risk of suicide,” Cadar reiterated.

“This is partly because heat affects the body’s ability to regulate stress and maintain mood balance, but also because many psychiatric medications interfere with the body’s natural cooling processes, making people more vulnerable to heat-related illness.”

Jennings agreed, noting that individuals with existing mental health conditions are two to three times more likely to die during extreme weather events.

“People with certain conditions, such as schizophrenia, who take medications like lithium, that can impair their ability to regulate body temperature,” he explained.

During a severe heat dome event in North America in 2021, “about 8% of the people who died had schizophrenia,” he added.

Inequality amplifies mental health burden

Experts emphasize that climate change disproportionately affects lower socioeconomic groups, exacerbating mental health inequalities.

“The long-term stress of living with environmental degradation, the threat of losing homes or suffering severe damage, rising temperatures, or worsening air quality can slowly wear away at people’s psychological well-being,” said Cadar.

She highlighted growing evidence of “climate anxiety,” also known as “eco-anxiety,” characterized by chronic fear or distress over the future of the planet.

“This is especially common among younger people and those who feel powerless in the face of global environmental changes,” she explained.

Moreover, climate change indirectly impacts mental health by disrupting social and economic structures, including housing, health care, farming, and agriculture.

“When people lose their livelihoods … are forced to relocate, or feel disconnected from their communities or natural environment, their mental health can suffer,” Cadar said.

“People in disadvantaged or marginalized groups are often hit hardest, as they have fewer resources to adapt and recover.”