"‘Heat stress is a silent killer’: How heat can affect mental health in workers,"

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...

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.

The conference marks the first time experts across the heat response chain – from humanitarian organisations to weather scientists to medical professionals – are convening under the network to discuss South-east Asia’s heat challenges and potential solutions...

Some of the discussions on Jan 8 focused on how millions of workers in the region could suffer from heat, highlighting the urgency for action...

Poor mental health can also result in weaker physical health over time, he added.

Dr Shawa noted that some of the mental health challenges faced by people working in excessive heat include emotional stress, anger, mental fatigue and anxiety...