[Comment] Advancing heat-related mental health research: moving beyond epidemiological links

Mounting evidence suggests ambient heat negatively impacts mental health. In an Article published in The Lancet Planetary Health,1 Thompson and colleagues showed that increases in average ambient temperatures are associated with higher suicide rates (1·7% increased incidence for 1°C rise in mean daily temperature and 1·5% for 1°C rise in mean monthly temperature) and mental health hospital presentations (9·7% higher incidence during heat waves than during non-heatwave periods). These findings are concerning given that global temperatures have increased by 1·2°C since the 19th century and might increase as much as 4·4°C by 2100,2 producing a higher frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves and hot summer days.