Psychologist warns of mental health consequences of heatwaves for particularly vulnerable groups

According to Pahl, particularly at risk are older people, those with chronic illnesses, individuals with existing psychological diagnoses, and people in precarious housing situations. Those living in cramped, poorly ventilated apartments or working outdoors have significantly fewer opportunities to cool down. Socially isolated individuals are also more strongly affected because help is often lacking in an emergency.

Who is particularly affected

The expert stressed that heatwaves act as a stressor that further weakens psychological resilience. Sleep deprivation from tropical nights, lack of fluids, and physical exhaustion can make emotional regulation more difficult. Those who are already under strain – for example, due to financial worries or family conflicts – react particularly sensitively to this additional burden.

Pahl therefore called for greater awareness of the psychological consequences of extreme heat. Alongside classic heat protection measures such as drinking water, cool rooms, and adjusted working hours, psychosocial support services must also be informed and prepared. „Wir müssen psychische Gesundheit als festen Bestandteil des Hitzeschutzes denken", the psychologist said.

Green spaces as a counterbalance

Access to nature – so-called "green" and "blue" spaces such as parks or bodies of water – also plays an important role for mental health during heat, Pahl explained. Such places can reduce stress and enable social encounters, but in many densely built urban neighborhoods they are not sufficiently available. Lower-income districts in particular often suffer from a double burden: more heat and fewer compensatory spaces.

The researcher expects a further worsening in the coming years, since climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves. If societies do not take early countermeasures, heatwaves threaten to become a regular trigger for psychological crises, Pahl warned. She advocated supplementing heat warning systems in the future with guidance for relatives and neighborhood assistance.

Research and prevention

The University of Vienna and the Institute of Psychology of Cognition, where Pahl serves as co-director, plan to expand their research on heat stress and mental health. The goal is to develop concrete recommendations for action for cities, employers, and health institutions. Pahl stressed that prevention is most effective where administration, civil society, and science work together.

According to Pahl, there are already simple measures that can help: regular phone contact with people living alone, seeking out cool public spaces during the hottest hours, and offering drinking water to passersby in busy city centers. Such low-threshold offerings can save lives and at the same time reduce psychological strain.

Appeal to society and the media

The psychologist also pointed out that mental health is often forgotten when it comes to heat, even though the psychological effect is closely intertwined with the physical burden. Those who chronically sleep poorly or are under heat stress can, over time, experience serious consequences for their psychological stability. Employers are just as much called upon here as families and neighbors.

In closing, Pahl appealed to the media and the public not to reduce the issue to purely physical aspects such as heatstroke or dehydration. The psychological dimension is equally relevant and must be given greater consideration in reporting and in political measures. Only in this way can the particularly vulnerable groups in Austria and beyond be effectively protected.