Mental illness and increased vulnerability to negative health effects from extreme heat events: a systematic review

Author: Julia Meadows, Adelle Mansour, Maria Rosa Gatto, Ang Li, Amber Howard, Rebecca Bentley

Year: 2024

Published in: Psychiatry Research

Across countries, extreme heat events are projected to increase in frequency and intensity because of climate change. Exposure to extreme heat events can have a substantial negative impact on human health, and extant research suggests that individuals with mental illness are particularly vulnerable. To date, there has been no review of evidence regarding this vulnerability to inform response strategies and future research.

People with diagnosed mental illness should be targeted for policy and service attention during high temperature days. Further research should investigate specific mental illness and adjust for a wider range of confounding factors.