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Why hotter weather may mean rise in suicide deaths in China as reality of climate change hits
- Experts warn measures need to be taken now by Chinese government and health sector to protect mental health as temperatures rise
- Predictions show there could be an extra 24,000 heat-related suicide deaths in China by the last decade of the century
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China should take action to reduce the potential impact of hot weather on suicide rates and protect people’s mental health as global temperatures continue to rise, according to researchers.
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The measures could include early intervention, education, social support, meteorological warnings and long-term climate adaptation strategies, the researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai said.
The suggestions follow a study the academics conducted into the relationship between rising temperatures and suicide rates in China. The results showed that rising temperatures were linked to increasing death risks.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post in early September, Chen Renjie, co-author of the study and a professor at Fudan University, said the measures should be part of a collaborative effort between the health sector, the government and other social organisations.
“We need to take comprehensive measures, focusing on mental health … and promoting cooperation in various fields, to reduce the adverse effects of climate change on people’s mental health,” Chen said.
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“This is essential to ensure [people’s] health and well-being.”
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