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When it’s more than the “Winter Blahs”
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Free, Anonymous Mental Health Screenings Available Nationwide on October 5
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The leaves are changing; the long, carefree days of summer are coming to an
end; and casual Fridays at the office are a mid-summer night’s dream. For many
people, adapting from post-summer vacation mode back to real life can prove
difficult. And for others, a change in climate – weather that is – can trigger
Seasonal Affective Disorder or what is commonly known as SAD.
Seasonal affective disorder is a depression that occurs each year at the same
time, usually starting in fall or winter and ending in spring or early summer.
This mood disorder is often attributed to the lack of light during the colder
months of the year. In addition, during the shorter, colder days of winter,
people spend more time in their homes, leading to less socialization and
increased isolation. This shift in routine can enhance the negative effects of
seasonal changes and put individuals at a higher risk for SAD.
If you think you may be suffering from season affective disorder, thousands of
sites across the country will be offering free, anonymous screenings for
depression and other related disorders as part of NDSD Mental Health
Screening events on October 5. As part of the program, attendees
will have the opportunity to take a brief, written questionnaire and talk to a
health professional about their results. Those who score positive will be
referred to local treatment resources. To find a local site offering the
screenings, visit www.MentalHealthScreening.org
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“SAD is a diagnosable mental health disorder that may require treatment. If you
or a loved one regularly experiences a significant, lasting, downturn of mood
when the weather gets colder and daylight lessens, then you should talk to a
health professional to discuss your symptoms,” says Douglas Jacobs, M.D.,
President and CEO of the nonprofit organization Screening for Mental Health and
Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Those who suffer from mild cases of SAD can benefit from additional exposure to
the sun. This can include a long walk outside or arranging rooms in your home
so that there is exposure to a window during the day. For those suffering from
more severe cases of the condition, light therapy or phototherapy has proven an
effective treatment option. This form of therapy involves exposure to very
bright light – usually from a special fluorescent lamp – for a few hours each
day during the winter months. Additional relief has been found with
psychotherapy sessions, and in some cases, prescription of antidepressants.
Between 10 and 20 percent of the U.S. population may suffer from mild symptoms
associated with the disorder.
Symptoms of SAD can include:
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Excessive sleeping or feelings of extreme fatigue
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Overeating and weight gain during the fall or winter;
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Inability to maintain regular lifestyle schedule;
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Depression (feelings of sadness, loss of feelings, apathy) and irritability;
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Lack of interest in social interactions, losing interest in activities of
enjoyment;
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Remission of symptoms in the spring and summer months.
NDSD Mental Health Screening, now in its sixteenth year, is a program of the
nonprofit Screening for Mental Health, Inc. The free program provides a
non-threatening way for the public to be screened for depression, bipolar
disorder, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. For more information or
to find a screening site near you, visit
www.MentalHealthScreening.org.
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Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
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