We are aware that hot weather can be bad for our physical health. We actively try to prevent dehydration, sunstroke and skin cancer. Less talked about is the fact that high temperatures can also have an adverse effect on our mental health. It has probably occurred to everyone that when we are too hot, we are more nervous, irritable and impulsive.

In July 2023, the Lancet scientific journal published a meta-analysis collecting the results of 19 studies on the effects of high temperatures on mental health. The conclusions are worrying, as it has emerged that climate crisis-related heatwaves can have far more serious mental consequences than temporary annoyance.

Researchers have shown that elevated temperatures, as well as their large fluctuations, are linked to increased hospital admissions for mental illness, as well as to overall poorer well-being of entire communities. Extreme temperatures have even been observed to be linked to an increase in suicide attempts.

We can reduce the impact of high temperatures on our mental functioning in the same ways that we use to take care of our physical health. It is important to prevent dehydration and avoid being in the sun as much as possible during the hottest parts of the day. When we have to go out into the heat, airy clothes and light-coloured headgear will help us regulate the temperature.