The New York Times (8/10, Mandavilli) reports, “If you find that the blistering, unrelenting heat is making you anxious and irritable, even depressed, it’s not all in your head. Soaring temperatures can damage not just the body but also the mind.” And “as heat waves become more intense, more frequent and longer, it has become increasingly important to address the impact on mental health, scientists say.” Joshua Wortzel, MD, chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s committee on climate change and mental health, said, “It’s really only been over the past five years that there’s been a real recognition of the impact. Our understanding of the basic biology of why this association exists is still in its infancy.”
Related Links:
— “Heat Singes the Mind, Not Just the Body,”Apoorva Mandavilli, The New York Times, August 10, 2023