Scientists link alarming factor to increase in suicidal behavior among patients aged 12 to 24: ‘It’s quite astonishing’

Over the past few years, we have seen that the increase in frequency and severity of heat waves is detrimental to human health. Many people died due to heat or existing health problems made worse by extreme temperatures. Now, research highlights another impact of heat on humanity: it could lead to an increased risk of suicide.

What’s going on?

The University of New South Wales in Sydney reported that new research links extreme temperatures to suicidal thoughts and behavior among young Australians. In fact, as temperatures rise, so do the number of young people presenting to emergency rooms with these symptoms.

To arrive at this conclusion, researchers examined more than 55,000 presentations of suicidal tendencies made to emergency rooms by patients aged 12 to 24 between 2012 and 2019. They found that for every degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) temperature increase, emergency room visits for suicidal youth increased by 1.3%. During heat waves, researchers recorded rates 9 to 15 percent higher than usual.

Dr Cybele Dey, a psychiatrist and senior lecturer at UNSW Sydney, was lead author of the study, published in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.

“The impact on the very first day when the temperature is warmer than usual is just as severe as each subsequent day, and the effect starts at a more moderate temperature than expected,” Dey said, according to UNSW Sydney . “This is not about concerns about the effects of climate change on the mental health of young people, but rather that hot weather itself is affecting them.”

Lead author Dr Iain Perkes, a psychiatrist and lecturer at the UNSW School of Clinical Medicine, agrees.

“It’s quite astonishing,” he said, according to UNSW Sydney. “The type of pattern… would indicate a cause and effect response.”

This finding is consistent with other research that has linked heat to mental health effects, including aggression and suicidal tendencies.

Why is this study important?

The world is warming because of air pollution caused by humanity. Hot temperatures aren’t limited to Australia. Weather conditions are becoming more extreme everywhere and heat waves are increasing. This means that billions of people around the world could soon be exposed to conditions that increase suicidal feelings – or they already have been.

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Location makes a difference, as urban heat islands are often much warmer than surrounding areas. But ultimately, people in almost any environment could be affected.

What do we do about extreme heat?

Lowering the Earth’s temperature will require a coordinated effort by people around the world. You can start by educating yourself and your loved ones about climate issues.

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