Living with Schizophrenia in a Changing Climate: Housing, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Health Risks

The increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves is negatively impacting the health of individuals globally. Yet, there is a disparity in who heat harms. People with schizophrenia have died at disproportionately high rates in recent extreme heat events (EHE) in North America. This study will present the framing and approach to improved knowledge of how heat harms those with schizophrenia. We build on recent work that qualitatively explored the EHE experiences of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia in British Columbia (BC), Canada, through which we found that this troubling trend reflects not only the physiological vulnerabilities associated with schizophrenia but also the systemic inequities in housing, social support, and access to care that compound their risk. To supplement these invaluable qualitative accounts, we aim to better understand heat experiences of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia by considering the intersection of indoor environmental quality (IEQ), physical and mental health data (cognition, mood), and the housing security conditions that affect thermal comfort and safety. Together with clinicians, geographers and community partners, our interdisciplinary study that will a) monitor Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) - using environmental sensors to monitor indoor temperature, humidity, and air quality over two summer seasons, assessing how these factors contribute to heat stress and overall well-being; b) assess Health and Mood Impacts via biannual questionnaires, health data from wearable fitness trackers, and cognition and mood assessments to explore how extreme and chronic heat, combined with poor air quality, influence the physical and mental health of people with schizophrenia; and d) amplify participant voices through Photovoice, where participants will document their experiences of extreme heat and poor air quality through photography and personal narratives. This humanizes the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations and provides rich, qualitative insights into the ways structural inequities shape vulnerability to environmental hazards.