Mit steigenden Nachttemperaturen nehmen die Anrufe bei der Selbstmord-Hotline zu. Untersuchungen ergaben, dass es in den zwei Tagen nach heißen Nächten zusätzlich 19 Selbstmordanrufe pro 100 Krisenanrufe gab. Extreme Temperaturen erhöhen das Selbstmordrisiko, stören den Schlaf, erhöhen den Substanzkonsum und die Impulsivität und verursachen Stress.

US scientists say that as temperatures during the night rise, crisis helpline services receive more calls from people contemplating suicide. The team looked at 11,684 suicide risk assessments in Louisiana, and found that in when night time temperatures were in the highest 10%, suicide hotline calls increased by 19%, in the highest 5%, by 55%, and in the highest 1%, by 166%. They estimate that this translates to an additional 19 suicide calls per 100 crisis calls in the two days following hot nights. They also found hot nights were linked with poor sleep, wishing to die, accessing methods of suicide, and abandoning plans for the future. The findings suggest temperature extremes increase the risk of suicide, disrupt sleep, increase substance use and impulsivity, cause stress over basic needs, and can lead to social isolation, the authors say. Interventions such as temperature-triggered staffing protocols and integration of basic needs support into suicide prevention during extreme weather events could help, they say.

https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/as-night-time-tempertatures-rise-so-do-suicide-hotline-calls