It is thought that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects around two million people in England and more than twelve million people across Northern Europe, where the winters tend to be the worst.
The history of Seasonal Depression can be traced all the way back to cavemen, who hunted and stored food in the summer and then largely stayed indoors and ‘hibernated’ during the winter. The history of illness and death during the winter in the past and present, such as pneumonia, colds and even heart attacks (which are more common in the winter) all point towards humans becoming weaker and more vulnerable during the winter.
"Perhaps a reason why Seasonal Depression is more common amongst students is because of the stress we put ourselves under during the winter."
Most schools or universities have their annual holidays during the summer, the winter takes up most of our workload. The added stress that this gives, alongside increased illness in the winter, takes a toll on our mental health and physical health.
There are many ways to tackle seasonal depression for students. Summer allows for more chances of socialising; this keeps us from becoming too closed in, like in the winter, and generally helps our mental health by keeping us connected to others. It can be helpful to plan meetings with friends or family in advance, so it’s something to look forward to.
Similarly, even just going outside and going on a walk can improve seasonal depression; even though none of us want to admit it, light exercise releases endorphins which can make you feel a lot happier. Even if the weather sometimes makes this impossible it can be refreshing to do something indoors with your housemates.
But don’t be hard on yourself if you’re sleeping a lot more in the winter; it’s actually very restorative, especially if you have low energy in the winter. Another way to clear your head, or ease the stress of the winter is to journal, which can help to externalise thoughts and organise any overwhelming stress that you might be feeling.
Although it may seem unavoidable, seasonal depression is temporary and it is only a few months before spring arrives again. Seasonal depression has been proven to scientifically affect society’s productivity, health and general happiness. Make sure you prioritise your health during the winter months!