France’s summer of heatwaves exposes hidden mental health cost

When temperatures soar, physical symptoms such as sweating and headaches can trigger mental distress. © iStock/Studio Graphique FMM

This summer’s record temperatures are revealing the toll climate change is taking on mental health. In France, psychiatric emergency services have reported a spike in calls during heatwaves, while experts warn the heat can worsen existing mental health issues. Meanwhile, young people are feeling overwhelmed by climate anxiety, as temperatures push past 40C.

At Sainte-Anne hospital in Paris, psychiatric emergency services report seeing more patients during heatwaves. For French psychiatrists, this is a warning sign of what lies ahead as summers get hotter.