Summer is often associated with happiness and vitality, offering many the chance to enjoy the outdoors, benefit from school holidays, and relax—factors that promote brain health and psychological well-being. However, summer also brings extreme heat and the risk of seasonal depression, both of which can negatively affect brain and overall health. So, how can you minimize these adverse effects?
Preventing and Treating Heatstroke
High temperatures pose a serious health risk. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can strain the heart and kidneys, disrupt sleep, and cause various health problems. A key preventive measure is allowing your body time to acclimate to the heat and maintaining adequate hydration.
Rebecca Sterns, CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute dedicated to heatstroke research, explains: “Gradually increasing any new activity over the first 10 to 15 days in a warm environment is critical, as it allows the body to adjust.”
Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition marked by a dangerously high body temperature. Warning signs include weakness, confusion, agitation, stumbling, collapse, or loss of motor coordination. At the first suspicion of heatstroke, immediate cooling is essential—applying ice packs to the neck and limbs or immersing the body in cold water can be lifesaving, even before a formal diagnosis.
Recognizing and Managing Summer Depression
Although summer depression receives less attention than winter seasonal affective disorder, it affects many people and is often linked to heat, humidity, and increased pollen levels.
Norman Rosenthal, the psychiatrist who first described seasonal affective disorder, notes: “People should be aware that self-harming thoughts are more common during summer, and they should seek help if they experience them.”
Simple interventions such as cold showers and staying in air-conditioned environments have proven helpful in alleviating symptoms, though these effects tend to be temporary. Psychological therapies and antidepressant medications are also effective, and doctors may increase medication dosages ahead of the high-risk season.
Spending More Time in Nature
Research shows that increased interaction with nature improves both mental and physical health. Enjoying walks outdoors during mild weather and listening to birdsong can reduce stress and elevate mood.
Gardening—whether indoors or outdoors—is another beneficial activity. It offers two main pathways to better mental health: connection with the beauty of nature and social engagement with others, both of which significantly enhance psychological well-being.
