Heatwaves Worsen Mental Health: ER Visits Surge 20%

This summer's extreme heatwaves in Italy have led to a notable 20% increase in emergency room visits for psychiatric disorders. This trend, confirmed by health organizations, is structural and not marginal. Extreme temperatures can significantly worsen existing anxiety and mood disorders, potentially triggering depressive episodes or even self-harm.

Health experts are now calling for people with mental disorders to be explicitly included in national heatwave prevention plans as a vulnerable category. The discontinuation of psychotropic drug therapies, particularly those with anticholinergic properties, poses a significant risk, often leading to relapse. Additionally, social isolation and housing insecurity, often lacking adequate insulation or air conditioning, further increase the vulnerability of individuals with mental health conditions during heatwaves.