Unexpected effects of heat on the body revealed

Australian scientists sound the alarm: global warming could trigger a large-scale mental health crisis. According to a study published in the prestigious journal Nature Climate Change, without decisive measures to curb climate change, the burden of mental and behavioral disorders (MBD) could increase by almost 49 percent by mid-century.

After analyzing Australian medical statistics over a 15-year period (2003-2018), researchers found a clear correlation between extreme heat and a surge in hospitalizations related to a wide range of mental health problems - from anxiety and depression to schizophrenia and various addictions. A telling example was the 15-day heatwave in Adelaide in 2008, when the number of hospitalizations among children increased by a shocking 64 percent, and among the elderly - by 10 percent.

Even under a relatively moderate warming scenario (less than 3°C by 2100), scientists predict an increase in the prevalence of mental disorders in Australia by 11 percent already in the 2030s and by 27.5 percent by the 2050s. In the case of a sharp deterioration in the climate situation, this figure could soar to almost 49 percent. Regions whose residents are historically not adapted to high temperatures cause particular concern.

The mechanism of heat's impact on the psyche is multifaceted: it disrupts sleep quality, intensifies stress reactions, and reduces oxygen supply to the central nervous system, which significantly complicates the course of mental illnesses. Young people are at increased risk - they more often work outdoors, less frequently take protective measures, and at the same time face mental disorders at an earlier age.

The study authors insist: mental health protection should become an integral part of strategies for adapting to climate change. Without comprehensive preventive measures, rising temperatures could lead to an unprecedented increase in the burden of mental disorders across society.