A research team from the University of East Anglia has discovered that even minor variations in air temperature and the length of daylight hours can affect people’s mental health and the frequency of requests for psychological support. The authors published their findings in Frontiers in Psychiatry.
The specialists analyzed over 4.6 million contacts with mental health organizations in England between 2014 and 2022. The review included calls to the NHS 111 service, emergency department visits, and consultations with general practitioners on duty. This information was then matched with weather conditions on the corresponding days.
The study showed that the number of contacts increased as the air temperature rose to approximately 18 degrees. Another factor identified was a decrease in the number of sunny hours: overcast weather led to more requests for help related to anxiety, depression, insomnia, alcohol intoxication, or suicide attempts.
However, the amount of precipitation did not show a consistent link with worsening mental health. The authors conclude that for emotional well-being, temperature and the quality of natural light are more important than rain itself.
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