There are ups and downs to the kind of hot, sunny weather we've been receiving over the last few days in Saskatchewan, the kind of weather where (today, for instance) the temperature sits near 30 degrees with the humidity before 10 in the morning. Some people may suffer from the effects of heat more than others, however. 

The usual precautions for hot weather apply almost universally: drink more water, stay in the shade if possible, or better yet stay indoors where there is air conditioning. But for people suffering from mental health problems, the effects of extreme heat may be even more pronounced. 

"There is a suggestion that folks dealing with mental illness could be more susceptible to heat," said Natalie Hasell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada. "Not because of the mental illness itself but because of the medication people might be on to handle and treat that situation."

Changes in body chemistry may have adverse effects on any number of medications, and sweating more and losing more water (as tends to happen in hot weather) can make those changes. But every medication will be different in its possible side effects. 

"It would be a very good idea for everyone to talk to their pharmacists," Hasell said, "and say 'These are the medications I'm on. Do they make me more susceptible to heat?' The pharmacist or your doctor should know if that's a typical thing."

Self-monitoring becomes extremely important in those cases, as you need to watch for changes in your behavior and mood to see if the heat is having that sort of impact. But Hasell also advises people to check in on their friends and neighbors more often on days like this. 

"Pay attention to how things go the next while," she said. "If you didn't feel all that great last week when it was hot, maybe it was because of the heat and not some other things that might be going on. That would be a conversation worth having." 

Hasell added that medication can change how a lot of things work in the body, but as she's not a pharmacist or doctor, she highly recommends consulting with a medical professional if you're concerned about the effects of a heatwave on your medication or mental health.