How Heat Waves Take a Toll on Mental Health
Utilizing the medical records of more than 2.2 million adults who visited emergency departments from 2,775 counties across the United States between 2010 and 2019, SPH researchers found that there were about 8 percent more emergency department visits for mental health concerns on the hottest days of summer than there were on the coolest days. Emergency visits for issues like self-harm, as well as for substance use, anxiety, mood and schizophrenia disorders, all rose consistently in proportion with the temperature. Learn more.