Extreme high temperatures double young people’s risk of mental health admissions, Australian research shows

An analysis of 720,000 New South Wales hospital admissions of young people finds a doubling of the risk of mental health hospital admissions. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Extreme high temperatures in warmer months double the risk of young people being admitted to hospital for a mental health condition, according to research.

The analysis, which looked at 720,000 New South Wales hospital admissions of young people aged up to 24, suggested the climate crisis would aggravate the already declining mental health of young people.