PESHAWAR, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 6th Aug, 2026) Rising temperatures and increasingly frequent heatwaves are taking a growing toll on the mental health of children and adolescents, with a new global study warning that climate adaptation strategies must address psychological well-being alongside physical health.
Published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, the systematic review and meta-analysis found that adverse mental health outcomes among children increase by nearly one percent with every 1°C rise in daily temperature, while the risk rises by about 25 percent during heatwaves.
The review analysed data from 23 studies involving children and young people aged five to 18 years from around the world.
The study was led by Shevonne Kwan, with Associate Professor Jacqueline Stephens, Professor Corey J.A. Bradshaw, Blesson M. Varghese, Kirrilly Thompson, Melinda A. Judge, Professor Peter N. Le Souëf, and Dr Syeda H. Fatima as co-authors.
Associate Professor Jacqueline Stephens said children are especially susceptible to the effects of climate change because rising temperatures disrupt outdoor activities, education and normal childhood development.
She noted that adolescence is a particularly sensitive period for mental health development, making young people more vulnerable to extreme heat.
She added that higher temperatures have also been associated with poorer learning outcomes and reduced academic performance among children.
The review found that extreme heat can disrupt sleep, impair emotional regulation and increase family stress, all of which contribute to anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.
It also linked higher temperatures and heatwaves with increased emergency department visits for mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression and suicide attempts.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Corey J.A. Bradshaw said the evidence highlights the need to integrate mental health into climate adaptation efforts and develop targeted interventions for children and young people.
He said the review also found that risks were higher in developed countries, potentially reflecting the effects of urban heat islands as well as greater support-seeking to address mental health problems among young people.
Dr Syeda Hira Fatima said the findings show the importance of looking beyond the immediate physical health effects of extreme heat.
She stressed that children’s mental health and well-being must also be protected as temperatures continue to rise.
She said future efforts should focus on understanding where and how children are exposed to heat in their daily lives and on implementing practical solutions such as cooler classrooms, improved ventilation and shaded outdoor spaces.
The researchers said that the findings underscore the need for governments and public health authorities to make children’s mental well-being a central component of climate resilience and adaptation policies in a warming world.
