Temperature and Mental Health: Evidence from Helpline Calls

Benedikt Janzen

Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, 2025, vol. 12, issue 6, 1431 - 1457

Abstract: This study examines the short-term effects of ambient temperature on mental health using data on nearly half a million helpline calls in Germany. Leveraging location-based routing of helpline calls and random day-to-day weather fluctuations, I find an adverse effect of temperature extremes on mental health as revealed by an increase in the demand for telephone counseling services. On days with an average temperature above 25°C (77°F) and below 0°C (32°F), helpline call volume is 3.7% and 2.3% higher, respectively, than on days with moderate temperatures. Mechanism analysis, where I examine temperature-related changes in conversation topics, reveals suggestive evidence of adverse effects of cold temperatures on social well-being and of hot temperatures on emotional and psychological well-being. More broadly, the findings of this work contribute to our understanding of how changing climatic conditions might affect population mental health in the near future.

Date: 2025
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