Waking Up to the Impact of Extreme Heat on Our Mental Health

By Thierry Malleret, economist

At the end of July, global temperatures reached their highest level ever in recorded history. Coming years look to be even hotter. Climate risk being the “mother” of all risks, every single corner of the wellness industry will be affected by it. One new dimension that scientists are just starting to grasp is the impact of extreme heat on our mental health. Reducing the risk that global warming poses to our mental wellbeing requires huge structural fixes but also new measures that can help us better adapt when temperatures soar. The wellness industry has an important role to play with the latter.  

HEAT AND MENTAL HEALTH:  

At the end of July, global temperatures reached their highest level ever (in recorded history). There is little doubt that this year will be the hottest in centuries, and that next year and the following ones might be even hotter. For the past few years, in almost every issue of the Wellness Barometer, we’ve expanded on the multiple challenges that climate change (and environmental degradation in general) raises for the wellness industry. Climate risk being the “mother” of all risks, every single corner of the wellness industry will be affected by it.  

One new dimension that scientists are just starting to grasp is the impact of extreme heat on our mental health. It does much more than making us uncomfortable and less productive: it also worsens our mental health by exacerbating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression as well as more serious conditions like schizophrenia and self-harming. Reducing the risk that global warming poses to our mental health and wellbeing requires structural fixes but also some measures on how to better adapt when temperatures soar.  

The wellness industry has an important role to play regarding the latter, in terms of education and prevention, and in helping build resilience (like greening infrastructure).