As government representatives gather at the international climate summit in Azerbaijan, the impact of climate change on young people’s mental health needs to be an urgent priority.
Authors
- Cybele Dey
Conjoint lecturer & PhD candidate in Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney
- Iain Perkes
Senior Lecturer, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney
- Kay Wilhelm
Professor in Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney
As psychiatrists working with children and adolescents, we’re so concerned that we’re sharing our research at the summit on the link between higher temperatures and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
Our shows young people are more likely to present at the emergency department for suicidal thoughts and behaviours in hotter weather.
Here’s what we found and why one of us (Cybele Dey) is presenting our findings at COP29.
Mental health is getting worse
Young people’s in Australia and across the world.
There is inadequate action on climate change is contributing. But it goes beyond about how climate change will affect their future.
Climate change is here, and its effects are already damaging young people’s mental health. Extreme weather events – such as Australia’s devastating in 2019 and – disrupt children’s schooling, force displacement and cause trauma, anxiety and stress.
Our study is showing another, less talked about dimension.
Suicidal behaviour risk increases with hotter weather
Small increases in average temperatures can mean a large rise in the number of hot days each year. In 2019, for example, 33 days averaging over 39°C – more than the total number of the preceding 59 years.
While studies have shown a , the issue is under-researched among young people.
Given suicide is a major health issue for young people – it is the for Australians aged 15-24 – we wanted to investigate this link.
Our looked at all emergency department presentations in New South Wales for suicidal thoughts and behaviour by people aged 12-24, during the warmer months (November to March) between January 2012 and December 2019.
We looked at these warmer months to focus on daily average temperature and heatwaves, rather than compare between seasons.
We found for every 1°C rise in average daily temperature, emergency department visits by young people for suicidal thoughts and behaviour increased by 1.3%. For example, presentations were 11% higher on days averaging 30°C, compared to days with an average 21.9°C. The risks also increased significantly even on days that were average temperature (not extreme heat), when compared to mild, cool days during the warmer months.
A study like this can only show an association between heat and suicidal thoughts and behaviour, rather than a direct cause. But the relationship was very strong. This means there was a steady and predictable worsening as ambient temperatures got rose.
We also analysed , meaning three or more very hot days in a row. Interestingly, presentations increased as much on the first hot day as on later days of a heatwave. That means each single hot day is as bad as another.
Heat and inequality
Our study also found young people in regions with some of Australia’s most disadvantaged suburbs had a higher risk of presenting at emergency for suicidal thoughts and behaviours than those in more advantaged areas, even at the same temperature.
This is significant because has shown socioeconomic disadvantage in itself does not increase risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviour in young people.
But disadvantage can mean people to the harms of hot weather. For example, this could be through lack of cool shelter or inability to pay for air conditioning or other cooling, as well as a lack of transport and access to .
Complex interactions for mental health
Understanding mental health impacts of climate change means between multiple factors, and over time. Simple, linear “cause and effect” models do not capture this.
about climate change does also play a role in young people’s mental health. But children and teenagers who show high levels of distress may be expressing a to an unhealthy reality, rather than a mental disorder.
Inadequate action and dismissive responses by those in authority, including governments, .
What we’ll be telling COP29
At COP29, leaders must understand youth mental health is already by insufficient action on climate change, from extreme weather, heat, forced migration and disruption to school, work and health care.
High-income countries such as Australia must rapidly and equitably transition off fossil fuels, including gas, and , to reduce climate distress now.
Our research suggests this may help reduce youth suicide and suicidal thoughts and behaviours, and improve mental health more broadly.
How can we adapt?
If we are to adapt to climate change, the mental health system at national, state and local levels.
Public health messaging about heat should also consider the risks of single hot days, not just heatwaves. It should target and include information about mental health as well as physical health.
This information should also be part of how health professionals are trained. The current includes two recommendations on mental health, focusing on community resilience and building a workforce trained in climate change and mental health. These need to go from policy into action.
Sensible public health measures – such as improving rental standards and equipping bus shelters for extreme heat – are needed now. We must plan for increases in mental health-care needs, including access to and evidence-based, local and culturally-appropriate treatments for children and young people.
If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call 000.
