Rising temperatures could trigger mental health problems throughout Australia, and new research predicts that the burden of mental and behavioral disorders could increase by nearly 50% by the middle of the century.
Research published by the University of Adelaide on natural climate change shows that high temperatures have contributed to thousands of healthy living ages each year and that the situation may worsen significantly as the planet continues to warm.
Lead author Professor Peng Bi, the lead author at the School of Public Health, warned: “The harmful effects of climate change on good mental health and emotional states are gaining increasing recognition worldwide and it will only get worse unless we take action.”
According to the study, currently, 8,458 disability-adjusted life years (DALYS) are lost annually due to mental and behavioral disorders, accounting for 1.8% of the total national mental health burden. Young Australians between the ages of 15 and 44 appear particularly vulnerable.
Drawing on comprehensive data from the Australian Disease Database burden, the study examines how temperature affects conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to schizophrenia and drug use disorders.
“From mild distress to serious diseases like schizophrenia, rising temperatures make millions more difficult,” Professor Bi explained.
Geographic location becomes an important factor in vulnerability. The Northern Territory faces the highest predicted relative risks and the highest average threshold temperature. Meanwhile, South Australia and Victoria have the highest proportion of mental health burden, which can be attributed to high temperatures – 2.9% (62.6 dalys per 100,000 per 100,000 people) and 2.2% (2.2% per 100,000), respectively.
First author Dr Jingwen Liu stressed that climate change will exacerbate mental health challenges and are merely what population growth is expected. “Young people often face these problems early in their lives, especially at risk as the climate crisis worsens,” she said.
This study is of great significance to Australia’s health care system and communities. About 8.6 million Australians suffer from mental or behavioral disorders between the ages of 16 and 85, and their temperatures are increasingly high and the additional stress may overwhelm existing mental health services.
Socio-economic factors exacerbate the problem. Income levels, health care access, and local environmental conditions all affect how calories affect mental health, and disadvantaged communities often bear disproportionate burdens.
“These results highlight the critical role of policy makers in developing concentrated public health interventions to minimize the emergence of mental health effects of climate change, given its significant human, social and financial consequences,” said Professor BI.
Researchers call for immediate action on multiple fronts, including preparing community-level interventions such as healthcare systems, green spaces, etc. to build resilience and provide targeted support for the most vulnerable populations in extreme calorie events.
Professor Bi urged: “Decision makers must adopt targeted, people-centered strategies to protect mental health as temperatures rise.” “It’s not just about health, but about building stronger and more resilient communities.”
As Australia continues to experience record heat waves and face warmer forecasts for decades to come, the study highlights that addressing climate change is more than just the environment – an increasing number of mental health emergencies require quick and decisive action.
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