Louisiana’s hot, muggy nights when temperatures soar above 70 degrees have a measurable impact on residents’ mental health, according to a study that adds to a growing body of research on the relationship between heat and mental well-being.
Researchers analyzed nearly 12,000 calls to Louisiana’s 988 suicide hotline and found that calls about suicide increased 19% after nights in the 90th percentile for heat, 55% after nights in the 95th percentile and 166% after extremely hot nights.
The researchers defined “extreme” temperatures as opposed to what is specific to each parish, using percentages rather than constant temperatures. A “warm night” in the study generally means overnight low temperatures in the low to low 70s in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Lafayette and in the mid to upper 60s in Shreveport, which reflect the 90th percentile of normal for each area.
The findings represent some of the latest research linking heat to mental health crises. Studies in the United States and internationally have found links between high temperatures and suicide deaths, emergency department visits for suicidal behavior, violent crime and domestic violence.
Researchers say Louisiana, with its humid subtropical climate and soaring nighttime temperatures, provides an example of how heat can stress both the body and the mind.
“This is consistent with what we see in the broader literature.” Mustafizur Rahman, an environmental health researcher at Tulane who has studied the relationship between heat and mental health and was not involved in the Louisiana analysis, said. “The strongest effects are often associated with nighttime temperatures.”
hot nights
The Louisiana study examined 11,684 crisis hotline risk assessments conducted between 2019 and 2023 by VIA LINK, the nonprofit that operates 988 suicide and crisis hotlines in the state. The researchers looked at whether suicide-related calls increased on a hot day and up to two days later.
The strongest association was with temperature at night compared to temperature during the day.
“When it’s hot at night, you don’t pause,” said Sophia Ryan, the study’s lead author and a geographer at UNC Chapel Hill who studies climate and mental health. “Your body doesn’t have a chance to cool down.”
Callers don’t necessarily refer to heat as stress, Ryan said. But they talked about trouble sleeping and little plans for the future.
The researchers found that children vocalize at even higher levels than adults. During a heat wave, normal social activities like exercising may be canceled or interrupted, leading to greater feelings of isolation, Ryan said.
Heat as a warning
The findings come as Louisiana continues to grapple with extreme heat. While daytime temperatures haven’t risen dramatically in recent decades, nighttime temperatures—at least at night—have risen steadily since 2000, according to the study.
As Louisiana faces another hot summer, research suggests that heat waves can serve as a warning signal.
“It’s a predictable increase in demand,” Ryan said. “If we know we’re going to have a week of really hot nights, it might be time to consider additional staff or access.”
Rahman said lawmakers could consider policies to keep air conditioning running during extreme heat. In northern states, utility companies are prohibited from turning off electric service during the colder months. Similar policies could be implemented in Louisiana for the warmer months, he said.
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