Heatwaves in Spain may have more serious effects than originally believed

According to several websites that provide weather information, Spain was hit by heatwaves of up to 45 degrees in certain parts between the weekend of Saturday, 28th and Sunday, 1st July. They also noted that 2025 is the hottest record year in 13 provinces.

A separate article in El Confidencial suggests that new information has revealed the severity of the effects of heat waves on Spain. They could affect not only physical but also psychological well-being.

Heat is associated with 50% more mental disorders

Recent Studies Have Affected the Right to Rent a Home study reveals that prolonged high temperature exposure increases the risk for psychological disorders. 

The University of Adelaide conducted the research that was published in Nature Climate Change. It estimates that heat-related mental disorders and behaviour disorders may increase by as much as 50% in the next few decades.

Although these conclusions are based on Australia, they can be extrapolated into southern Europe where climate change has led to longer and more extreme Summers.

The team of researchers compared temperature data to health statistics in order to calculate the number DALYs (days-a-year-lost-to-mental illness) due to heat-related mental illnesses.

The researchers estimate that more than 8400 years of life were lost each year in Australia between 2003-2018 due to mental disorders like anxiety, depression or schizophrenia which are worsened by extreme temperatures.

Peng Bi, the lead author of the study. 

These numbers are likely to worsen in the future if mental health and climate issues are not addressed by health services.

Spain in the spotlight

Andalusia is a region that has a tendency to have higher rates of these disorders. Heat waves and high sun exposure could lead to an increase in mental health problems. 

Moreover, the northern regions which are not used to such extreme temperatures could be affected severely by these heat waves.

Dr. Jingwen Liu emphasizes that the impact on mental health of climate change goes beyond population increase: “Our results demonstrate that climate-change will increase mental problems beyond what could be expected from only population growth.”

The other effects of heat

The impact of youth mental health is one of the most concerning aspects.  A second study, linked to the main document, found that the number of emergency rooms visits by adolescents for suicidal feelings increased for every degree increase in the average daily temperature.

These data highlight the urgent need for mental health to be integrated into emergency climate plans. Heat wave warnings are primarily focused on physical effects such as heat stroke or dehydration, but they ignore the emotional and mental impact which can be just as devastating and persistent over time. 

Peng Bi, a Chinese environmentalist, warned that ignoring the silent component of climate change could have further negative consequences on a medium- and long-term basis.