Rising mercury can affect mental health of workers: Experts

This could lead to issues including conflicts in workplace and impaired decision-making

- Chin Hui Shan

The impact of heat on mental health is a less visible sign of heat stress, but it is one that people in South-east Asia should pay attention to as the world warms, experts at a heat conference warned on Jan 8.

As temperatures rise, workers could be more susceptible to mental health issues, leading to conflicts in the workplace, impaired decision-making and lower productivity, said Dr Ken C. Shawa, a senior economist at the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

"Heat stress is a silent killer. Many people are not aware that they are being affected by heat," he said.

"Prolonged heat exposure can affect your mental health... If you are irritated, angry or depressed, (it) can affect your work productivity and, sometimes, you may not even know (you are affected by heat),", said Dr Shawa, who is also head of the regional and economic analysis unit in the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Dr Shawa shared these insights on the second day of the First Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) South-east Asia Heat Health Forum, which is being held at the Parkroyal on Beach Road from Jan 7 to 10.