Hotter Summers and Seasonal Depression

Seasonal depression, officially known as  Seasonal Affective Disorder,  is a condition often associated with colder seasons. Sometimes dubbed ‘winter blues’ seasonal depression often shows up during late fall and winter, and for many tends to go away around spring and summer. 

Sadly, this might not be the case for long.

In Texas and much of the Southern region of the United States, late summer has brought incredibly hot temperatures. This summer introduced some of the hottest records for the South, as much of the region is just now escaping an oppressive heat dome. Texas itself is finally experiencing bearable temperatures, however during the majority of the Summer the state took the brunt of the heat dome. Our state is not in the clear. 

Thanks to over development in urban areas and loss of habitat, Texas is currently experiencing something known as the ‘Heat Island Affect’. This is a phenomenon where due to what is essentially a land of concrete and infrastructure, heat is trapped on various surfaces and slowly releases throughout the day. Even at sunset, it is still hot due to concrete retaining heat. Various regions in Texas, such as the northern and eastern part of the state are also very humid, making heat even more unbearable.  Given development is not stopping in our state, especially in urban areas, summers will most likely be hotter in the coming summers. 

So what does this have to do with mental health?  

Well, everything. Seasonal depression in the winter is heavily tied to lack of socialization due to darker and colder days, and cultural isolation surrounding holidays that promote unity. It is the inability to partake in an important part of human nature in various ways that harms the nervous system. 

When it is far too hot to partake in the season, even at night, many people sacrifice their social lives to stay cool and safe from the dangerously hot temperatures. Plans and activities are postponed, shortened, or abandoned altogether to stay cool  

This summer, in my own town in Denton, I realized there were no children playing outside during the summer like they usually do, not even at night. Old Downtown Denton, which is often filled with people during Spring and Summer days, was a lot less active than usual.

Inevitably, hotter summers will result in less socialization despite sunnier days and free time for many Texans. Similar to winter depression, unbearable summer heat creates an environment where activity during the day and the night is impossible or extremely difficult. A season that is known for physical activity and exploring the outdoors essentially becomes the opposite, and unlike winter blues which has more of a psychological toll on those who suffer from it, ‘summer blues’ can cause physical harm by means of heat stroke or sunburn. 

Another negative attribute to hotter Texas summers, which also correlates to lack of socialization and poor mental health is the death of greenspaces. Whether it be parks, walking trails, or areas where both wildlife and humans intersect, they will not exist thanks to the combination of rising temperatures and over development. Texans, especially our youth, will inevitably lose opportunities to interact with nature around them and in the future will not care to preserve habitats and the environment around them. 

In a similar vein, both nature and sunlight in general are also linked to the rise in serotonin and positive change in mood, so the inability to experience that can  once again result in negative impacts on mental health of various Texans. 

Warmer summers bleeding into winters also pose another problem. Aside from the obvious environmental impact, hotter summers mean Texans will unfortunately experience two seasons back to back that come with their own types of depression. Two seasons where the weather and surrounding holidays make sociability and activity difficult if not impossible for many. 

It is also important to reiterate that aside from the mental health conditions that are associated with lack of socialization, mobility, and the usual seasonal blues, lack of outdoor activity will likely result in the Texan youth of today not caring for the environment if they cannot experience it. We are facing some of the greatest threats to Texan ecosystems by means of development and Data Centers, and when our new generations are not able to build connection with nature around them now, it leads to another mental health condition, and that is lack of empathy for the environment around them.  

Tolerable temperatures have finally made their way to the Northern part of Texas, but that means nothing if our future summers will be hotter. Shorter days are already around the corner and after a season of dangerous heat, I’m afraid for what next year holds. That said, there are still ways to combat hotter summers. Speaking out against data centers, advocating for wild life, and protecting green spaces will aid in tolerable summers and more spaces for Texans to cherish in the future. These solutions are not a be all and end all, however, they can open the door to legislation targeting environmental concerns and hopefully one day, our Texas summers are tolerable again.