“I wash my hands and face frequently, and if the heat becomes intolerable, I lie on the floor. Even the air is hot when the fan is turned on,” shares Asma (Pseudonym), a resident of Nishatnagar, Tongi. In this densely populated Dhaka-adjacent area in Bangladesh, homes are tightly packed together, and walkways become increasingly narrower as you near the accommodations. During the day, Asma and other women often sit outside, seeking shade and a slight breeze to cope with the oppressive heat. Some gather in front of shops or in the alleyways between their homes, trying to find respite from the extreme temperatures.

Study shows that, in Bangladesh, a 1°C temperature rise had a 21% higher likelihood of anxiety disorder and 24% higher likelihood of depression and anxiety together1. For many, this might seem like an abstract statistic. But for women in vulnerable, low-income communities — often bearing the brunt of both climate change and social inequity — the toll is all too real.

Recognising this crisis, SAJIDA Foundation has launched a study titled "Heat-Mind Initiative for Women: Assessing the Impact of Extreme Temperatures on Mental Health among Women in Bangladesh." The study is conducted in collaboration with IRD – Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, and BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH), and supported by the Embassy of France and INSERM – Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, the study also benefits from the Eco Impact Award, jointly awarded to Georgetown University and SAJIDA Foundation2.

Set in the industrial town of Tongi in Gazipur, the study aims to shine a light on how rising heat is affecting mental health in some of the country’s most underserved communities. Through this initiative, SAJIDA Foundation hopes not only to build scientific understanding but also to craft tangible strategies to protect and support those most at risk.

Over the past few decades, beginning in the 1990s and accelerated in the 2000s–2010s, Tongi has transformed into an industrial hub3. The area hosts a variety of industrial units, which contributes significantly to the economy4. The industrial boom in Tongi and Gazipur has attracted a vast workforce, many of whom are women migrating from rural areas, often residing in informal settlements5. The health and well-being of these low-income communities are compromised due to inadequate WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) services, inefficient waste management systems, limited access to recreational spaces, and the strain of overcrowded living conditions — all of which are further intensified by extreme heat and the growing impacts of climate change. The implications go beyond physical health; climate stressors are now increasingly linked to adverse mental health outcomes.

In the narrow lanes of Tongi, where the hum of industry never quite fades and the air grows heavier with each passing summer, a quiet but powerful research effort is underway. Since December 2024, over 500 women across five sites in Tongi have been participating in this study. Each month, researchers carefully collect ambient temperature readings alongside mental health assessments, capturing a rich stream of data that spans six waves by May 2025.

But numbers alone aren’t enough. To truly understand the human side of the story, this research goes deeper — using a mixed-methods design that weaves together the rigor of longitudinal data with the depth of lived experiences. While the quantitative arm examines the relationship between extreme heat and common mental disorders (CMD), the qualitative side listens closely to the voices of the women themselves. Crucially, the study also evaluates SAJIDA’s Community-based Mental Health Intervention (CMHI), aiming to learn whether and how such support systems can buffer the mental toll of a changing climate. By the end of this year, the study findings will offer important insights into the impact of heat on mental health and the role of CMHI.

In a world where climate change is accelerating and mental health is still shrouded in stigma, particularly for women in underserved communities, this study stands at a critical crossroads. Its findings could not only shape national conversations and policies in Bangladesh but also serve as a model for other climate-vulnerable regions across the globe.

By uncovering how rising temperatures affect mental health — and identifying what interventions truly work — this research holds the power to drive change where it’s needed most. It’s not just about understanding a crisis. It’s about building a blueprint for resilience, care, and climate-conscious mental health solutions for the future.

References:

1. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(22)00315-1/fulltext
2. https://earthcommons.georgetown.edu/announcements/eco-impact-awards-2024-recipients/#bangladesh
3. https://ibtbd.net/the-rise-of-an-industrial-hub/
4. https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/views/bangladesh-and-its-future-economy-addressing-the-challenges
5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344683266_Transformation_of_rural_house_form_and_typology_on_demand_of_RMG_factory_migrant_workers%27_affordable_housing_at_Gazipur_Dhaka