SINGAPORE — The persistent rain has 25-year-old Ho Shan Yu feeling sad and sluggish. Her partner, on the other hand, gets stressed out after spending just five minutes under the blazing sun.

"The wet weather has me home more, and I feel like I can understand my friends in the United Kingdom when they say they have seasonal depression from the gloomy sky," said Ms Ho, a sustainability manager.

She and her partner are not alone in feeling emotions run due to the weather. Experts warn that with hotter days, longer dry spells and much heavier rain on the horizon due to climate change, people's emotions and mental health will be impacted. 

Findings from Singapore's third national climate change study reveal that Singapore could face daily temperatures exceeding 35°C for up to 351 days in a year by the end of the century.

Extreme daily rainfall is projected to increase as well, according to the study released last Friday (Jan 5).

The World Health Organization has rung the warning bell on climate change's impact on mental health, calling on countries to integrate climate change considerations into policies and programmes for mental health.

Here's how climate change will impact our mental health, and what actions we can take.

REACTION TO RISING TEMPERATURES, DISCOMFORT

Research has shown a correlation between heat waves and a wide range of psychiatric conditions, such as depression and anxiety.

"Suicides, particularly violent ones, have been observed to be more prevalent during periods of high temperature," said Assistant Professor Cyrus Ho of the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

Psychologist Dr Karen Pooh of Alliance Counselling added: "When our body experiences higher temperature and more physical discomfort, our mind and mental health will be affected, too."

For one thing, higher temperatures can lead to physical discomfort and contribute to stress and irritability, said Dr Pooh, who is also part of the adjunct faculty at Yale-NUS.

Hotter nights could also lead to poorer sleep, difficulty concentrating and impaired cognitive function.

It is not just rising temperatures that impact our mood.

"Prolonged rainy days and insufficient sun have been associated with various psychiatric disorders, including seasonal affective disorder, which predominantly manifests in the autumn and winter seasons," said Dr Ho.

"A reduction in daylight and shorter days may potentially induce a chemical alteration in the brain that results in the manifestation of depressive symptoms."

UNCERTAINTY OF CLIMATE CHANGE BRINGS ANXIETY

But beyond the weather's impact, the uncertain future due to climate change sparks anxiety in some.

For Ms Ho, this uncertainty is all too real. 

"The anxiousness is something inherent when you learn about climate change, like when you think about the increased droughts, famine and bad weather that can affect our food supply chain," she said.

"It has made me really consider life choices, like if I should have children when I know these disasters will happen in the next 50, 100 years."

Such anxiety is known as eco-anxiety.

This is when someone experiences "heightened emotional, psychological or somatic distress in response to concerns about environmental issues and the impact of climate change", said Dr Pooh.

The anxiety caused by uncertainty due to climate change may not necessarily be explicit, added Ms Theresa Pong, counselling director at The Relationship Room.

With more extreme weather, plans may be disrupted and this can cause inconvenience.

For example, a family member is in charge of the laundry, but the weather may disrupt this daily chore and cause stress as the clothes need to be washed.

"The other family members are reluctant to step up with the laundry because they are not used to doing this chore which is undertaken by the family member previously," said Ms Pong.

"The sudden loss of certainty and stability adds mental and emotional burden on the individuals which would affect relationships in the long run."

Concern for the climate and environment can also cause conflict between people.

"While it is no surprise to know that typical issues couples quarrel about would include relationships with in-laws, parenting, finance and household chores, we have observed in recent months that climate change has started to emerge as one of the major issues couples fight about," said Ms Pong.

For example, one party may not be at the same level of readiness when it comes to practising sustainability, while the other feels strongly about the impact of climate change. 

WHAT CAN WE DO?

The solution to climate change's mental health impact is not as simple as hiding in an air-conditioned room, experts warn.

"Research has shown that individuals are likely to experience mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety when they stay indoors over a prolonged period," said Ms Pong.

Environmental experts also told TODAY earlier that this could worsen the impact of climate change, creating a negative cycle.

Dr Pooh said: "The impact of climate change on mental health is influenced by various factors, depending on factors like existing mental health conditions, available resources, and how well we adapt.

"Efforts to address and mitigate the mental health impacts of climate change may include a mix of personal coping skills, community support, easy access to mental health services, and policy-level strategies to deal with climate change."

On an individual level, Dr Pooh said practising mindfulness through exercises such as focused breathing can help detach people from distressing thoughts.

Beyond that, committing actions towards environmental sustainability and nature could help provide a sense of purpose, while contributing to both personal well-being and environmental conservation.

Ms Pong added that with the anxiety caused by climate change, it is important for individuals and families to communicate.

"Embrace empathy and creativity as well (when coming up with a solution) as this is a good opportunity for the family to bond and set goals to help one another," she suggested.