As climate change triggers record-breaking heatwaves, wildfires, and floods across the globe, experts are warning of a deepening and underreported crisis: the growing toll on mental health.
“Climate change can have a profound effect on mental health through both direct and indirect pathways,” said Dorina Cadar, a leading researcher in neuroepidemiology and dementia.
“One in every four children and pregnant women are suffering from malnutrition. On a daily basis, we admit around 25 malnutrition cases."
Cadar said that extreme weather events such as floods, wildfires, and heatwaves are linked to acute stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Neil Jennings, a climate expert at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London, said the issue has long been neglected.
“Climate change is having an impact on health-related outcomes … (in) both physical health and mental health,” he said. “But mental health historically has received less attention than physical health.”
Recent weeks have seen parts of the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia, the US, and the Middle East scorched by prolonged heatwaves.
Experts say the mental toll is intensifying.
“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, who directs the Cognitive Epidemiology, Dementia, and Ageing Research (CEDAR) lab at Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
Jennings noted a direct link between extreme heat and suicide.
“We know that for every 1 °C increase in temperature, there is roughly a 1% increase in the risk of suicide,” he said.
He pointed to research showing that each 1 °C rise in monthly average temperature led to a 2.2% increase in mental health-related deaths. Increases in humidity also drove up suicide rates.
Jennings highlighted the vulnerability of outdoor workers such as laborers, construction workers, and farmers.
“Farmers, for instance, often experience significant psychological stress due to crop losses from extreme heat, floods, and wildfires,” he said.
Experts say floods, hurricanes, and wildfires leave lasting trauma.
“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 are linked to increased anxiety, depression, and substance use, especially among evacuees and first responders. Their unpredictability and rapid spread contribute to psychological distress.
Even droughts, though less dramatic, create chronic stress and hopelessness among communities reliant on agriculture. “They also lead to chronic stress, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts, particularly among farming communities whose livelihoods depend on climate-sensitive environments,” Cadar said.
Cadar said older adults, particularly those with dementia or cardiovascular conditions, face high risks during heatwaves due to limited mobility and difficulty accessing help.
People with pre-existing mental health conditions are also vulnerable, as many struggle to detect or respond to heat-related symptoms. Children, adolescents, and low-income individuals in poorly insulated housing or without access to cooling systems are similarly at risk.
“High temperatures can worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders, and may even increase the risk of suicide,” said Cadar.
“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 added that “individuals with existing mental health conditions are two to three times more likely to die during extreme weather events.” He pointed to the 2021 heat dome in North America, noting that “about 8% of the people who died had schizophrenia.”
Experts also warned that the burden of climate-linked mental health issues falls hardest on the most vulnerable.
“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 noted rising cases of “climate anxiety” or “eco-anxiety,” particularly among younger people and those who feel powerless to stop environmental collapse.
Cadar also linked climate change to disruptions in housing, healthcare, agriculture, and social structures that further damage psychological resilience. “When people lose their livelihoods … are forced to relocate, or feel disconnected from their communities or natural environment, their mental health can suffer,” she said.
“People in disadvantaged or marginalized groups are often hit hardest, as they have fewer resources to adapt and recover.”
China and the United States have agreed to extend tariff pauses and deepen economic consultations following two days of trade talks in Stockholm, Chin...
You’ve probably seen the headlines: sweeping tariffs, surprise pauses, and a 90-day ticking clock that could reshape global trade. But what exactly ...
Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and head of the Presidential Administration’s foreign policy department, Hikmat Hajiyev, has met with Ukrai...
Lebanon’s push to centralise arms under state control signals a potential turning point in efforts to curb non-state militias and revive stalled dip...
China and the United States have agreed to extend tariff pauses and deepen economic consultations following two days of trade talks in Stockholm, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said on Tuesday.
You’ve probably seen the headlines: sweeping tariffs, surprise pauses, and a 90-day ticking clock that could reshape global trade. But what exactly is Trump’s 90-day pause — and why does it matter for the world economy? Let’s break it down
Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and head of the Presidential Administration’s foreign policy department, Hikmat Hajiyev, has met with Ukraine’s ambassador, Yuriy Husyev.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
Americans will soon be able to access and share their medical records through a new “digital health tech ecosystem”, unveiled by U.S. President Donald Trump in partnership with more than 60 major technology companies.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep flaws in how the world prepares for and responds to global health threats. From overwhelmed hospitals to fragmented international coordination, the crisis revealed that preparedness goes beyond stockpiles. It requires trust, transparency, and global cooperation.
Honduras has brought back mask mandates as COVID-19 cases and a new variant surge nationwide.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that the world could be on the brink of another chikungunya epidemic, similar to the 2005 outbreak, unless swift measures are implemented to control its spread.
Every Sunday evening at Chicago’s North Avenue Beach, the sound of collective shouting echoes across Lake Michigan – not from protestors, but from Scream Club Chicago, a group gathering to relieve stress by screaming into the open air.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment