Hidden Cost Of Heatwaves: How Rising Temperatures Are Eroding Our Mental Health
When the thermometer soars and the heatwave grips a city, most of us think of risks like dehydration or sunstroke. But the story doesn’t end there.
The “invisible” cost of heat, the mental and psychological toll, is growing and deserves our attention.
What’s happening?
Heatwaves are increasingly being linked with mental-health harms.
A major review found that for every 1 °C rise in ambient temperature, the risk of mental-health-related deaths shifts by around 2.2 % and hospitalisations for mental disorders also climb.
Studies also show that hot nights, heat-stress and humidity disrupt sleep, increase irritability, trigger anxiety and worsen pre-existing psychiatric conditions.
Who is affected?
Virtually everyone is vulnerable to some extent, but particular groups are at higher risk including:
People with existing mental-health disorders or on psychotropic medications (because heat may interfere with medication or thermoregulation).
Older adults are already physiologically more vulnerable.
Those living in environments with poor cooling, high humidity or inadequate shade (urban heat islands, low-income homes).
Communities in regions where heatwaves are more intense or frequent, including in Africa, where heat and climate stress amplify mental-health burdens.
Where & Why this matters (including for Nigeria)
Heatwaves are not just a European or North American problem. It is a global crisis.
As global warming advances, higher temperatures become more common in tropical and subtropical regions, including Nigeria.
The mental-health effects arise through several interconnected pathways:
Sleep loss: Hot nights interfere with rest, and poor sleep is a strong risk factor for anxiety and depression.
Physical discomfort, psychological strain: Constant heat places extra burden on the body and brain; fatigue, dehydration, cognitive slowing and irritability cascade into emotional distress.
Amplification of existing problems: For someone living with a mental illness, being exposed to prolonged heat can worsen symptoms, increase hospital visits.
Social and economic stressors: Climate stress may impair livelihoods (for example in agriculture or informal economies), elevate anxiety about the future, and thereby weaken community resilience.
When will the effect show?
The impact can be immediate (heatwaves over a few days) but also cumulative.
Studies show that when a heatwave is defined as several days above the 90th percentile of temperature, mental-health-related admissions rise noticeably.
Over time, communities exposed to repeated heat-stress may suffer worsening baseline mental-health and reduced capacity to cope.
How big is the cost?
While precise figures for every region are not yet available, the evidence is clear: mental-health burdens linked to heat are measurable, rising and likely underestimated.
For instance, one source found that the number of hospital admissions for psychiatric conditions increases when mean temperatures rise above ~26.7 °C.
Beyond hospitalisations, the social cost in terms of lost productivity, increased substance use, family stress and community breakdown runs deeper.
So what can we do? (action steps)
Individuals & households
Ensure sleeping areas are well-ventilated, use fans or cooling if available, especially during hot nights.
Recognise sleep disruption and irritability during heat as valid warning signs of psychological strain.
Maintain good hydration, take cooling breaks, and avoid outdoor exertion in peak heat. These help stabilise mood and cognitive clarity.
If you or someone you know has a mental-health condition, pay closer attention during heatwaves and seek support early.
Communities & policymakers
Develop heat-adaptation plans that integrate mental-health support, particularly for vulnerable groups (elderly, people with disabilities, low-income communities).
Increase green space and shade in urban areas (trees, cool roofs) to reduce ambient heat and provide relief.
Raise awareness among health professionals that heatwaves are not only a physical-health hazard but also a mental-health risk.
Invest in early-warning systems and community cooling centres, not just for physical health but for psychological safety too.
Why this matters in Nigeria
In Nigeria, where many homes may lack air-conditioning and public infrastructure for extreme heat may be limited, the mental-health dimension of heatwaves is especially relevant.
For journalists and communicators, like myself, we have a powerful role: raising awareness, reporting not just on the physical toll of heat, but on the emotional and mental burden.
This can spur conversations about climate adaptation, mental-health support, infrastructure resilience and community education.
In conclusion
The heat is more than a discomfort or physical risk. It is quietly shaping mental-health outcomes, straining individuals, families and communities, especially when coupled with climate change, urbanisation and social inequality.
By recognising the link between heatwaves and psychological distress, we can shift from reactive to proactive: building homes, cities and services that protect both body and mind.
Let’s talk about the hidden cost of heatwaves, and how we can act now, before the next wave rolls in.
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