Principal Investigator:
Co-Principal Investigator:
Periods of extreme heat, which are increasing in frequency due to climate change, have been linked to adverse mental health outcomes, including symptoms related to schizophrenia, substance use, mood disorders, and suicide. At heightened risk for negative effects of extreme heat are individuals experiencing homelessness, who have higher rates of serious mental illness than the general population, and who may not have consistent access to reliable shelter, air-conditioned spaces, cool showers, or other common methods for adapting to heat. Our project seeks to understand better how adults with serious mental illness who are also experiencing homelessness manage during periods of extreme heat and the unique barriers they face in adapting to this increasingly common aspect of climate change. We will conduct qualitative interviews with adults experiencing homelessness who are receiving psychiatric emergency services in a community crisis stabilization center serving publicly insured and uninsured individuals primarily from neighborhoods in Boston identified as urban heat islands. The results from our study will directly inform the development of novel interventions and policies that address the needs of those most vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change.