Wk of 9.9.19

Global warming has been a popular topic over the last years due to the catastrophic effects it has had and is still having in our environment, but the new insights on its effect on mental health should spike our interest in addressing this situation even more. It is certain that heat makes us more irritable and uncomfortable, but the fact that “heat waves are now considered the deadliest weather events, exceeding hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined”, is frightening. Global warming is no longer just an environmental issue, but it is having a direct impact on our behavior (increased violence), mood, and even suicidality. As it is stated in the article “The Impacts of Extreme Heat on Mental Health”: “One standard deviation of temperature increase leads to a 4% increase in interpersonal violence and 14% increase in group violence…” and “Research shows an increase in suicide rates of 0.7% in the US and 2.1% in Mexico during periods of 1 degree Celsius increase over average monthly temperatures”. This is a wake-up call to all humans to start taking care of our environment and helping reduce global warming by taking steps as simple as reducing water waste by taking shorter baths, use renewable energy whenever possible, recycle, etc. However, in order to achieve this, conscientization needs to be done! Healthcare providers now have another great reason to join this cause, as it is directly contributing to the deterioration of our mental health. It is well known that depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, etc. can be triggered by adding stressful situations to the patient’s life, yet now we actually know that temperature, an environmental factor, is another stressor/trigger to add to the list of factors that worsens a psychiatric patient’s condition. The provided example of Lithium is indeed very interesting, as I was not aware of the potentiating effect that high heat could provoke. It is alarming! In the article “How High Heat Can Impact Mental Health” Mrs. Landy-Brown shares her experience of hallucinating people crossing by her car WHILE DRIVING due to high summer heat combined with her Lithium and other medications she uses to treat her PTSD, bipolar disorder and anxiety. As a community, healthcare providers should use whichever means we have to communicate these alarming effects of heat in our psychiatric patients, as well as in our patients overall. Now, even more than before, we must be alert of changes in behaviors in the patients and make sure to ask if their irritability/symptoms are somewhat heightened during high-temperature days, and this way provide better care and recommendations.

Being understanding is key to helping patients, and the interplay among psychological illness, global warming, and poverty cannot be ignored. These articles raise a few interesting points that make me attempt to extrapolate other events to the effects of extreme heat. First, as widely portrayed by media, heat can affect mental status of a person. For example, extreme heat in desert can cause visual hallucinosis to mentally stable people, thus it is understandable that those with schizophrenia, who already exhibit psychotic features, will be more susceptible to the effect of global warming than general population. Second, is this why every prometric center always ensure to keep it chill, sometimes even a little too chill for students [not complaining or anything], so that they don’t go “crazy”? Third, poverty has always prevented a certain subset of population from attaining the level of comfort, such as food, transportation, and entertainment. I never knew that poverty, in addition, can affect their mental state by simply preventing them from affording the cost of electric bills for air conditioning.

As health professionals, we have a moral duty to address the growing mental health concerns of global warming. With temperatures hitting record highs within the last few years, there is a glaring rise in the incidence of violence, exacerbation of symptoms, and mortality amongst those who have pre existing psychiatric illnesses. An alarming study revealing an increase of temperature 1 standard deviation above normal, results in a nearly 3-fold increase in violence within said demographic. Some patients have reported heightened symptoms of hallucinations during periods of heatwaves while taking a popular lithium based bipolar drug. Discovering the many ways global warming has and will continue affect to affect our environment, it is imperative that we do not neglect it’s just as important growing affect on public health.

As someone who can’t stand temperatures above 72 F, it comes to no surprise that elevated heat temperatures impact mental illness negatively. It makes sense. The heat puts people in a bad mood. For me, it is the excessive sweating that makes it uncomfortable and unbearable. For those with mental illness, it is the combination of increased agitation, aggression, listlessness, dehydration, and suboptimal medication functions that worsen their current mental illness status. People with no access to A/C have it even worse. It is our job as mental health care providers to educate the public about the negative impacts of excessive heat on mental health, and how to prevent complications.

I am the lead programmer for <a href=https://sweatyquid.com>SweatyQuid</a>, a freelancer market place web site after I have grown tired of Fiverr shutting my accounts and pocketing my hard-earnt funds. I would undoubtedly be grateful if someone could give me some guidance on my internet site: what is lacking and what aspects you would enhance. Thanks very much guys!

We are currently looking for product reviewers at pactatlanta.boards.net to review our brand new sexy lingerie <a href=https://peachesandscreams.co.uk/>Black Lingerie collection including Dreamgirl All-in-One Opaque Off The Shoulder Garter Dress and Stockings</a> If you are interested, <a href=http://www.sex-shopping-and-chocolate.com>let me know</a>