CLIMATE CHANGE, HEATWAVES AND MENTAL HEALTH (LAKEI_U23SCI50)

Primary Supervisor:  Professor Iain Lake
Secondary Supervisor:  Professor Beatriz de la Iglesia
Supervisory team: Professor Gillian Smith, Dr Alex Elliot

A key impact of climate change is likely to be an increase in the frequency and severity of heatwaves, and these negatively affect the mental health of individuals (i). Impacts include mood and anxiety disorders. However, to fully understand the impact of heatwaves there is a need to monitor the day-to-day mental health impacts on populations (ii). In addition, the ability to monitor the mental health impacts of heatwaves daily could be used to identify people at risk and develop early warning systems. 

Research Methodology

Therefore you will identify and characterise several heatwave events in the UK. Following this, and in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), you will systematically evaluate novel potential data sources that may be used to monitor day-to-day effects. Likely datasets include daily mental health calls to telephone and internet helplines (NHS111), Emergency Departments attendances as well as internet searches (e.g., Google trends) or social media posts (e.g., Twitter) (iii) and data from family doctors on consultations and prescriptions (iv). Statistical and machine learning methods using R or Python will be used to quantify the impact of heatwaves on mental health. You will also explore whether impacts vary by the type of heatwave and socioeconomic factors such as age and gender.

Training

As part of an interdisciplinary, cohesive and successful research team you will be trained in the analysis and interpretation of large datasets using epidemiological, statistical and machine learning techniques. This PhD provides an exciting opportunity to work closely with infectious disease experts and public health practitioners at UKHSA. The expertise in Data Science you will develop during this PhD are highly valued by employers across disciplines and sectors.

This PhD is part of the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emergency Preparedness and Response, a partnership between Public Health England, King’s College London and the University of East Anglia.