DocWire News Editors

DocwireNews

A study released this week that analyzes the potential link between climate change and suicide found that suicide rates tended to be higher in months with high temperatures. Published in Nature Climate Change, the research was conducted using data from thousands of American and Mexican neighborhoods over long periods of time. The team found that every 1 degree Celsius above the average for a month was associated with a 0.7% increase in suicide rates in the U.S., and a 2.1% increase in Mexico.In their analysis, the scientists also incorporated data from social media accounts, in efforts of finding language portraying depression. From evaluating 600 million social media updates, that found that prevalence of depressive language also increased as temperatures exceeded the months average.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Unlike some results of climate change that are mostly confined to coasts, &ldquo;everyone is going to experience temperature increases,&rdquo; said the study&rsquo;s lead author. &ldquo;The toll from mental health could be incredibly large.&rdquo; <a href="https://t.co/fjEK3R382l">https://t.co/fjEK3R382l</a>
&mdash; WBUR (@WBUR) <a href="https://twitter.com/WBUR/status/1022085303723540481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2018</a>
</blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>The authors conclude that both developed and middle-income areas displayed strong correlation between temperature and suicide rates. They also predict that if climate change is not controlled, suicide numbers could increase in the U.S. and Mexico by 9,000 and 40,000 in the next 30 years. Recent global warming data suggests that by the end of the century, Earth&rsquo;s temperature will rise by 2 degrees Celsius. If this increase is tethered to a raise in suicide rates, the impact could be devastating.The exact mechanism between high temperatures and cognitive processes is beyond the scope of this study, but the authors believe that effects of thermoregulation or other neurological processes affected by temperature could potentially cause depressive symptoms.&ldquo;If there is going to be adaptation in the future, it has to be unprecedented. It has to be unlike anything we&rsquo;ve seen over the past half century in the United States,&rdquo; says Marshall Burke, co-author of the study.<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ysAoaFVMl4" width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><a href="https://proddocwire.wpengine.com/general/rising-temperatures-linked-to-increased-suicide-rates/">Check out more from the Guardian</a>&nbsp;Sources: <a href="http://time.com/5346900/climate-change-temperature-suicide/">TIMES</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/climate-change-heat-wave-abnormally-hot-temperatures-suicide-rate-increase">ScienceAlert</a>

Jordana Jampel

FDA Approves Novel Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Detection

Dementia

Andrew Moreno

Is Plasma Mannose-Binding Lectin a Clue to Higher VTE Risk?

Katie Kosko

EMBER-3: Imlunestrant Plus Abemaciclib Improves PFS in ER+ Breast Cancer

HR Breast Cancer

Latest News

Study Finds Suicide Rates Increase with Higher Temperatures

Depression

A study released this week that analyzes the potential link between climate change and suicide found that suicide rates tended to be higher in months with high temperatures. ...

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertising

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Contribute

Career Center

MashupMD

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

GU Oncology Now

Urban Health Today

Anemia

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Essential Thrombocythemia

Hemophilia

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polycythemia Vera

Pulmonary Embolism

Sickle Cell Disease

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombophilia

Thrombosis

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Venous Thromboembolism

von Willebrand Disease

Heme Today

Acute Kidney Injury

ADPKD

Anemia and Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Hypertension

End-Stage Renal Disease

Gout

Hyperkalemia

IgAN

Kidney Transplantation

Metabolic Acidosis

Nephrology Times

HER2 Breast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Genetics & Breast Cancer

Breast Cancers Today

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Interventional Cardiology

Lipid Management

Practice Tips With Dr. Lichaa

Preventive Cardiology

Stroke

Cardiology

Breast Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Skin Cancer

Oncology

Sleep

Urology

Diabetes

Ophthalmology

— Demodex Blepharitis

Neurology

Rheumatology

Gastroenterology

Pulmonology

Infectious Diseases

— HIV

Health and Wellness

Lupus

Future of Medicine

Orthopedics

Pharmacology

Career News

More

Conferences

CardioNerds

The Sleep Source With Dr. Morse

Rheumatology Rounds With Dr. Maheswaranathan

Partners

Expert Interviews

Subscribe