Extreme heat is increasingly being treated as a mental-health risk

Mental-health specialists are warning that extreme heat can intensify distress and may be associated with increased demand for crisis services. Heat can disrupt sleep, worsen irritability and place additional strain on people with existing psychiatric conditions. Some medications can also affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature.

Why it matters: Heat preparedness is not only a physical-health issue. Mental-health agencies and caregivers may need to incorporate temperature exposure, medication risks and access to cooling into crisis-prevention planning.