Explainer | How extreme heat can affect your mental health and the best ways to cope
- From feeling anxious and frustrated to irritable and even aggressive, extreme heat can affect our mental health in many ways
- Here’s what to look out for and the best ways to cope, including drinking enough water, getting sufficient sleep and engaging in gentle creative hobbies
July was Hong Kong’s hottest month on record, with 21 “very hot days” when the daily maximum temperature reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) or above.
While the physical discomfort of such heat is undeniable, research suggests that these conditions can put pressure on our psychological well-being, too.
“People may be uncomfortable, which makes them irritable, and we see an increase in frustration and anger,” says Hong Kong-based clinical psychologist Dr Cindy Chan. “We see more impulsive behaviour – people may crave food, or their addictions come out.”
Research has shown that there is a correlation between increasing temperatures and various mental health problems, including mental exhaustion, hostility, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and higher suicide rates.
The reasons for this are not yet understood, but scientists are working to uncover whether heat can cause changes in the brain that lead to these effects.
“There is some speculation that an increase in temperatures may influence the serotonin level in the brain, so a person may develop increased depressive mood, anxiety, more unstable emotions or may become more impulsive. But more research needs to be done,” Chan says.