Research has found that temperature increases during heatwaves correlate to increased levels of violence, more suicide attempts, and disturbed sleep – a worrying trend with serious impacts on how global warming will affect our mental wellbeing.
The physical dangers of heatwaves are well documented. The current estimate of 296,000 deaths related to heat occurring during the past two decades is only set to rise as global temperature increases, and they show little sign of plateauing.
As climate change is set to have increasingly devastating effects on the global ecosystem, research suggests that physical side effects won’t be the only health issues we will have to contend with.
As temperatures rise globally, prevalence of mental health and mood disorders is predicted to rise, along with increases in violent and suicidal behaviour. An active area of research, the predicted impact of climate change on mental health is primarily grounded in analysis of previous trends in elevated temperatures and the correlating mental health of the area.
Between 1993 and 2003 in England and Wales, with every 1°C rise in temperature above 18°C there was an increased risk of suicide of 3.8% throughout the population. Between 1996 and 2013 the same rise in temperature resulted in a 1.7% increase in the rate of violent crime in Finland.
Some scientists estimate that rising temperatures due to climate change could result in an additional 1.2 million assaults between 2010 and 2099 in the United States.
So why do elevated temperatures affect us so severely? Scientists have suggested that disruption to sleep and decreased levels of serotonin could be triggering mental health and mood disorders. Heatwaves are associated with sleep deprivation, which is in turn associated with impulsivity, irritability, and violence.
As heatwaves become more common, hotter, and longer, the issue will become compounded. A predicted two thirds of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050, who will be more affected by rising temperatures as urban areas heat up faster and remain hotter overnight. Suggested solutions, such as increased ventilation, may not be enough to negate the negative effects of higher temperatures on mental health.
Alongside the health impacts of increasing global temperatures, the changing climate will put pressure on our ecosystem, with demand for food and water increasing as supply issues become more prevalent.
Beyond the direct individual impact that climate change could have on incidences of violence, the sixth edition of Global Strategic Trends lists environmental stress as a rising trend that requires action due to the potential for rising demands to lead to disputes and conflict.
Ultimately, with the potential for more frequent mental health issues, higher likelihood for violent incidents and even global conflict over finite supplies we cannot afford to assume we will adjust to the consequences of climate change and must continue to demand change from our government.
