When Summer Gets Hard: The Mental Health of Children and Young People in the Hot Season

The ice cream is melting, the nights are short – and while adults dream of holidays, many children and young people are sitting in overheated flats, scrolling through endless feeds, or simply don't know what to do with themselves. Summer is seen as a time of lightness, but for many young people it also brings stress, overwhelm, and quiet crises. Here you can find out which mental challenges can arise for children and young people and how you can support them.

1. Heat in body and mind

High temperatures affect not only the body, but also the psyche. Studies from 2024 show that heat can be associated with increased irritability, concentration problems, and even more aggressive behaviour. Sounds logical: when the body is under heavy strain, little energy and patience remain for other challenges. Children and young people react particularly sensitively, as their thermoregulation is less stable and they often still find it hard to regulate emotional states.

In urban areas, this effect is amplified by so-called “heat islands” – densely built-up districts where heat accumulates. Sleep problems, exhaustion, and irritability are common consequences.

What helps concretely:

  • Use cool places of retreat: libraries, museums, or shopping centres offer air-conditioned rooms.
  • Water and exercise: regular drinking breaks and light exercise (e.g. in the shade or by the water). In Vienna, the many swimming pools are a good way to cool off, or – for good swimmers – a day on the Danube.
  • The City of Vienna also offers “Coole Zonen” (publicly accessible, air-conditioned rooms) as well as information about cool places in the city.

2. Boredom as a learning opportunity

“I'm bored” – a sentence often heard in summer. For many adults, this sounds like a luxury problem – how often do we have the chance to simply sit down, or to think about one of five to-do lists? Yet boredom is an important space for development – for children and adults alike. It fosters creativity, self-efficacy, and the ability to discover one's own interests.

But without guidance, boredom quickly tips into passive media consumption. Hours of scrolling can negatively affect sleep, mood, and self-image – particularly in young people.

What helps concretely:

  • Accept and name it. Name the feeling of “boredom” without immediately looking for a solution. When children and young people learn to tolerate boredom, creativity often comes all by itself.
  • Develop an “ideas box” together with children – a list of possible activities.
  • Consciously accompany media consumption. Agree on clear times when the phone may be used – and also for what.
  • Offerings in Vienna
    • Summer reading campaign of the Vienna public libraries (e.g. Leseralleys, challenges).
    • WienXtra-Ferienspiel: free and low-cost activities all over Vienna.
    • Vienna's youth centres: open meeting places with creative programmes.
    • For the first time this summer: JugendTalk 2026 – free of charge & for everyone who has something to say!

3. Summer depression: when the lightness doesn't come

While many experience summer as the happiest time of the year, some young people feel particularly isolated. The pressure of comparison rises (“everyone else is out and about”), routines fall away, social contacts change.

Typical signs can include:

  • Persistent low mood or irritability
  • Withdrawal from friends
  • Sleep problems or extreme tiredness
  • Loss of interest

Especially in summer, such symptoms are often overlooked because they don't fit the image of the carefree holiday season. Particularly when these signs persist for several weeks, support should be sought.

What helps concretely:

  • Show interest and start open conversations, without judging the situation.
  • Help create structure and experiences of success in everyday life. This works best by setting and achieving small goals (e.g. a walk around the block, making the bed, meeting friends). It works even better when these goals are visualised and written down.
  • Foster social contacts and enable low-threshold meet-ups. It's best to suggest a concrete place and time right away. This lowers the barrier, as the person affected doesn't have to organise everything first.
  • Involve professional help:
    • Rat auf Draht (147): available around the clock, anonymous, and free of charge.
    • Vienna's school psychology service (reachable to a limited extent during the holidays as well).
    • Online offerings such as feel-ok.at or Jugendliche-selbsthilfe.at.

4. Digital worlds offer connection

Summer often means more screen time. Digital spaces can connect – but also overwhelm, especially when used without reflection. Social media can increase the pressure of comparison and lead to more sleep problems and stress. That's why conscious use and regular reflection on the media consumed are important. Apps like “be present” help keep an eye on screen time and reduce it.

What helps concretely:

  • Develop shared media rules instead of banning phone use completely.
  • Strengthen offline alternatives (sport, creative projects, meeting friends).
  • Have conversations about social media: What content do you see on social media? What reactions does that trigger in you?

The role of adults: accompany rather than control

For teachers, social workers, parents, and other caregivers, the challenge is to remain present without controlling. Summer is an opportunity to strengthen relationships, foster creativity, and create new ways of connecting.

Concrete approaches:

  • Listening is often more important than insisting on rules or principles. This way you recognise hidden worries or needs and can respond to them better.
  • Make resources visible: What is the child good at? Where do they experience self-efficacy?
  • Make use of cooperations and offerings: many programmes for children and young people are free of charge and are meant to be used. And if social media is being used anyway, feel free to use it to research these offerings (TikTok channels relevant for Vienna include, among others, stadtwien, frishwienxtra, wienerjugendzentren, and 1000thingsinvienna).
  • Small interventions are often more effective than grand concepts.

Rethinking summer

Summer doesn't have to be perfect to be good. Between heat, idle time, and digital worlds, children and young people need one thing above all: adults who look, understand, and accompany. Especially in cities, there are numerous resources. Use them and make the best of them for yourselves and your mental health.