Overview presentation for Community Mental
Health Team Leaders
Prepared by NS&CC MHDA
2011
(Acknowledgement: slides from a disaster response presentation by
Professor Beverly Raphael were adapted in this overview)
A public health issue
 State Emergency Service brochure, South Australia
Hot weather is dangerous
 High temperatures are a threat to health, especially
in summer and extreme heatwave conditions.
 Heat can affect consumers on psychotropic
medications
– anticholinergic drugs impair sweating
– neuroleptic drugs impair thermoregulation.
 Early recognition of heat stroke and prompt
treatment reduces mortality
Summer “Heat” Social Behaviours
 Increased alcohol and drugs use – ‘water first’ preferable
 Heat and violent behaviours
 Motor vehicle accidents
 Vulnerable youth – risk behaviours
 Drownings
 Heat-related stress – “tipping point”
 “She’ll be right mate” attitudes
Signs and Symptoms of heat-related illness
Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion
– thirst, paleness and sweating
– weakness and discomfort
– rapid shallow breathing
– muscle cramps
– nausea and vomiting
– dizziness or fainting
– rapid heart rate
Prevention strategies
– cool, non-alcoholic drinks
– resting out of the heat
– cool shower, bath or sponge bath
– wearing lightweight clothing
– watch for inappropriate clothing in hot weather
Signs and Symptoms of heat-related illness
 Signs and symptoms of heat stroke (medical emergency)
– core body temperature > 40.5°C
– confusion or disorientation
– Red, hot, dry skin (no sweating)
– rapid pulse
– severe headache & dizziness & nausea
– possible loss of consciousness
– shallow, rapid breathing
 Management
– Encourage rapid cooling & Ambulance
NSW
Risks for mental health consumers in
extreme heat
 Particular risk for those maintained on antipsychotic medications:
– Recurrent heat-related health problems associated with
antipsychotic treatment
– set point of temperature regulation centre could be elevated by
antidopaminergic effects of anti-psychotics e.g. phenothiazines
and thioxanthenes
– Neuroleptics may impair hypothalamic thermal regulatory
pathways
 Meta-analysis of risk from extreme heat:
– increased risk with pre-existing psychiatric illness
– Mortality: death rate tripled particularly if isolated, housebound
(Bouchama et al Arch in Med 2007)
Suggested Mental Health Service Strategies
 Identify vulnerable consumers
 Encourage consumers to write self-care strategies in a wellness
plan e.g. Use of fans, air conditioning, fluids, showers for
prevention and treatment of heatstroke
 Work to implement the care plan to budget and purchase
appropriate curtains and fans etc prior to summer. Check
consumers have keys for locking windows to be able to open for
a cool breeze.
 Contact charity organisations re curtains and fans if financial
constraints for consumer
 Check clients have a plan for power failures (high grid load in
summer)
– E.g. for essential medical equipment such as CPAP.
 Consider partnership with NGO’s to provide support during
summer
NS & CC MHDA resources
 Guideline: Hot weather preparation and actions for mental
health Consumers [a guideline for staff to assist consumers
during hot weather and heat wave conditions 2011]
 Brochure
 Promotion materials
– Poster
– caps
– drink bottles
– fridge magnets
guideline
Interim
Hot weather preparation and actions for Mental Health consumers
Document Number
Publication Date
July 2011
Intranet location/s
Summary
Assisting consumers to better monitor and manage body temperature
during summer and heat waves.
Author Department
NSLHD & CCLHD MHDA
Contact (Details)
Liz Newton MHDA GSU, GroupWise
Endorsed By
Andrea Taylor, NSLHD & CCLHD MHDA Executive Sponsor
Sector/Service
All services (community& inpatient) within NSLHD & CCLHD MHDA
Audience
All Staff of NSLHD & CCLHD MHDA
Date Created
July 2011
Review date
July 2014
Previous Reference No.
n/a
Related Policy/s
Key Words
Heatwave, summer, Consumers, medications
Status
active
Attachments
Heat Wave Brochure and Flyer
Health promotion items
Caps
printed on the front with
‘HEATWAVE keep cool’
Fridge magnets with clip
to attach brochure to fridge
Simple fridge magnets
Rationales of some decisions
Logo was selected in a transparent style, as
it cost $70 set up fee per colour – cheaper to
use the colour of the product to colour the
centre of the sun than pay to have it
coloured.
Hats were chosen in light colours that
would be more dirt resistant than white or
natural.