ISTANBUL
Australian researchers revealed that rising temperatures due to climate change could lead to an increase in the burden of mental disorders, ABC News reported on Monday.
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Adelaide’s School of Public Health found that the burden of mental and behavioral disorders in Australia could rise by nearly 50% by 2050.
Lead author Professor Peng Bi warned that the effects of climate change on mental health are “only going to get worse” if no action is taken.
“From mild distress to serious conditions like schizophrenia, rising temperatures are making things harder for millions,” ABC quoted the professor as saying.
The report indicated that high temperatures led to an annual loss of 8,459 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) between 2003 and 2018.
A DALY, as defined by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, measures the years of healthy life lost due to death or illness.