t24.com.tr
Turkey's Heatwave Exacerbates Mental Health Issues
In Turkey, rising temperatures are causing significant mental health issues, including sleep disorders, anger problems, anxiety, and depression, impacting productivity and decision-making, varying by gender, age, and socioeconomic factors.
- What underlying factors influence the diverse impacts of heat on mental health across different demographic groups?
- The impact of heat on mental health varies based on gender, age, and socioeconomic status, exacerbating conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and substance abuse. Symptoms include sleep disturbances, fatigue, and irritability.
- How are rising temperatures in Turkey affecting the mental well-being of the population, and what are the most immediate consequences?
- Rising temperatures in Turkey are negatively impacting mental health, triggering sleep disorders, anger issues, anxiety, and depression, according to expert clinical psychologist Merve Öz. She notes that heat affects productivity and decision-making.
- What long-term strategies can individuals and the healthcare system implement to mitigate the escalating mental health effects of extreme heat in Turkey?
- Heat's effect on sleep quality and duration reduces productivity, lowers tolerance, and hinders anger management, particularly impacting those with bipolar disorder. Panic disorder sufferers may misinterpret heat-induced physical symptoms as panic attacks.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing is predominantly focused on the negative mental health effects of heat. While this is important, a more balanced approach might include discussions of coping mechanisms and community support resources alongside the negative impacts. The headline, while not explicitly stated, is likely to emphasize the negative aspects, potentially causing undue alarm.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and informative, using direct quotes from the expert. However, phrases such as "zulüm" (cruelty) when describing the experience of depressed individuals could be considered emotionally charged and might be replaced with more neutral language like "difficult" or "challenging.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses primarily on the mental health impacts of heat, but omits discussion of the physical health risks associated with extreme heat, such as heatstroke or dehydration. While acknowledging space constraints is valid, mentioning these would provide a more complete picture of the overall health implications.
Gender Bias
The article features a female expert, which is positive. However, the analysis doesn't explore whether the impact of heat on mental health differs between genders. This omission could be addressed by including research on gendered responses to heat stress or by explicitly noting the lack of such research in the conclusion.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the negative impacts of extreme heat on mental health, leading to various issues like sleep disturbances, irritability, and exacerbation of pre-existing conditions such as depression and anxiety. The extreme heat is shown to directly and indirectly affect mental well-being, impacting productivity and cognitive functions. The quotes directly link the heat to worsening mental health conditions and decreased quality of life.