Extreme heat events can be deadly for people with serious mental illness. What do I need to know?

Heat waves are occurring more often than they used to in the United States; extreme heat events have also become more severe over time. The average heat wave season has become longer, increasing health risks for people who are susceptible to overheating or heat-related illness. People with schizophrenia are at particular risk; research has shown that the illness triples the risk of death during a heat wave. Heat health awareness is vitally important for individuals living with a mental health condition and their loved ones.

Heat and Mental Health

People with mental illness and those using medications to treat mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat.

Hospital admissions have been shown to increase for those with mental health conditions as a result of extreme heat, rising temperatures, and humidity.

Hotter temperatures also seem to worsen the symptoms of mental illnesses and contribute to heightened negative emotions like anxiety, anger and irritability.

Extreme heat can also lead to social isolation; feeling uncomfortably hot may make it difficult to go out or keep health appointments. Warmer nighttime temperatures may interfere with getting a good night’s sleep. Difficulty concentrating can also be an effect of extreme heat; a person may feel like they can’t think clearly and have trouble staying on task.

Medical and Medication Impacts 

If you or a loved one are taking certain medications to manage a mental health condition, you may be more at risk for heat-related illness than people who are not taking these medications.

People with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions face increased risks from extreme heat. Certain antipsychotic and antidepressant medications can affect the ability to sweat and regulate body temperature, heightening the individual’s risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Some of the symptoms that people with psychosis experience impair their perception of reality, which can lead to behaviors like wearing too many layers of clothing in hot weather or not recognizing when their body temperature is rising.

Vulnerable Populations

Many individuals with serious mental illness are more likely to experience housing insecurity and are more exposed to harmful conditions caused by extreme heat events. Lack of access to basic comfort measures like water, shade, or a place to cool off make unhoused individuals with serious mental illness very vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.

Isolation and fewer social supports may also keep individuals with serious mental illness from learning about and using preventive strategies such as temporary cooling centers and showers to manage the effects of extreme heat.

Ways to Reduce Risks of Extreme Heat

Have a plan for keeping yourself or a loved one safe during an extreme heat event
Learn about spaces like libraries, shopping centers or temporary local cooling centers where you or your loved one can cool down
Speak to a doctor about how extreme heat may affect you or a loved one when using certain mental health medications
Learn to recognize signs that you or a loved one may be experiencing heat-related distress
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing
Take cool showers or baths 
Avoid being outdoors in extreme heat; cancel or reschedule activities for the coolest part of the day
Check in; let important people in your life know you’re OK or check in with people who may need your support during extreme heat events

Resources about preparing for and staying safe during extreme heat events:

Information about preparing for and staying safe during extreme heat events and recognizing heat-related illness may be found on Ready.gov.
National Center for Healthy Housing has compiled resources at the state level that includes a comprehensive list of cooling center locations by state. To learn how to find a cooling center near you, visit this link.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a tip sheet about coping with hot weather for people who use medication to manage mental health conditions. Download it here.
To learn about symptoms of heat-related illness, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

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