Doctors are alarmed at new research out today that shows the grave impact of hot weather on children and young people’s mental health, and are calling on governments to keep this top of mind when considering new fossil fuel projects or expansions.
The study led by researchers from UNSW Sydney and published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatrists showed that children and young people were more likely to present to emergency departments with suicidal thoughts or behaviours in hot weather.
Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) spokesperson and study co-author Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry James Scott says, “Hot weather is increasing with global heat records being broken almost every month, with the 14 months to July 2024 the hottest months on record.
“Our research shows that young Australians’ mental health suffers in the heat, and we know that climate pollution is contributing to increased extreme weather, including heat.
“We need governments to take research like this into account before approving any new fossil fuel projects and when forming climate policy more generally so we can keep our kids safe.”
The study also found that children and young people in Western Sydney were impacted more than those in Eastern Sydney at the same temperatures. The authors suggested lack of access to cool shelter, lower quality housing, fewer trees, lower quality infrastructure, and energy poverty were potential explanations for this.
Western Sydney GP and DEA member Dr Kim Loo says, “As a doctor in an area known to be a ‘Hot Spot’, with insufficient shade and lack of infrastructure to protect people from heat, I am very concerned about what this report means for the mental health of my young patients and others in my community during hot weather.
“This study adds to the evidence that children and adolescents have an increased risk of suicidality from heat and this risk is only going to get worse as our planet gets hotter.
“The study is a call to our governments to do more to protect our communities from hot weather by improved town planning, more shade, and greening our suburbs. It also shows the necessity of phasing out fossil fuels that are driving global heating to protect health.”
Burning fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil is driving climate change which in turn is pushing up temperatures.
Yet Australia is still approving major new coal and gas projects and expansions. The planned development of the Beetaloo Basin alone could produce climate pollution that is more than three times Australia’s annual domestic emissions over the next two decades.
“Every time the government approves new coal mines or gas projects, it’s harming our children and grandchildren and selling their future short,” says Prof Scott. “The health costs to Australia’s children and young people need to be counted in all government climate policy decisions.
“To reduce heat-related mental health harms for children and young people and reduce ED presentations, we need an urgent and rapid transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.”
The study in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatrists examined 55,000 youth suicidality presentations of young people aged 12-24 to ED across NSW from 2012-2019.
The authors found substantial presentations occurred not just during heatwaves or extremely hot weather, but even during modest increases in hot weather.
At the average temperature for warmer months, there is already an 4.7% increase in 12-24 year olds presenting to ED with suicidality, compared with milder days at the average temperature for spring. Rates continue to rise as it gets hotter, to 9% higher on the least severe heatwave day and to 15% during extreme heat.
