Wellcome 41d ago

Extreme heat is becoming more common around the world. While its physical dangers are well known, scientists are only beginning to understand its effects on mental health. In this episode of ‘When Science Finds a Way’, host Alisha Wainwright explores the growing research linking rising temperatures and mental wellbeing. Professor Andrea Mechelli explains how analysing millions of data points is helping researchers understand the connection between heat and mental health. The episode also includes perspectives from participants in his London-based research and from Mete Çoban, London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, on how the city is preparing for hotter futures. Looking beyond London, Dr Benedict Weobong shares insights from research in Ghana and Zimbabwe, highlighting why local context matters when tackling heat-related challenges. 00.00 Guest introduction: Professor Andrea Mechelli 05:06 Living with extreme heat 15:02 How heat impacts mental health 19:23 Heat across cultures 28:14 Planning for a hotter future 37:35 Heatwave tips from the experts 🔔 Subscribe to Wellcome on YouTube: https://wellc.me/3Blh0c1 💬 SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/wellcome-trust/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellcometrust/ Follow us on X: https://x.com/WellcomeTrust Follow us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/wellcometrust.bsky.social/ Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellcometrust 🔗 MORE FROM WELLCOME: Wellcome is a global charitable foundation. We want everyone to benefit from science’s potential to improve health and save lives. Read our latest stories, opinions and reports: https://wellcome.org/news-and-reports Learn more about our work: https://wellcome.org/what-we-do Find our latest funding opportunities: https://wellcome.org/grant-funding