**** Info via Environment Canada
Are you SAD?
Weather seems to have a real and measurable effect on our mood.
The winter season, with fewer daylight hours and the associated lack of sun exposure, can have a profound impact on our spirit. We may start feeling what we often call the “winter blues”. When someone experiences an extreme form of “winter blues”, it can be diagnosed as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). For most people, SAD is generally worse in the fall and winter. Mental health, like physical health, allows us to enjoy life and deal with challenges. If you feel SAD may affect you, learn more about the signs, symptoms and treatment.
Why do we get fewer daylight hours?
The tilt of the Earth in relation to the Sun directly impacts the amount of sunshine each hemisphere receives throughout the seasons. In summer, the axis of rotation is tilted towards the Sun, so we can enjoy longer days in Canada. In winter, the axis of rotation is tilted away from the Sun, so our days are shorter. The days are therefore colder and darker. For example, on December 21 in Edmonton, there are less than 8 hours between sunrise and sunset, compared to 17 hours of sunshine on June 21.
The good news is daylight hours always increase after December 21! This gain is minuscule at first, just a matter of seconds a day, but it grows steadily until daylight expands by three minutes per day in March. The exact brightness gain depends on your location; it can reach over one hour per week up North!
Feeling SAD? Ask for help!
The biggest barriers to reaching out for support are the stigma and the fear of discrimination.
So let’s not be afraid to talk about it and seek help when needed. Click here if you need help or if you know someone who does.
Credit: Mario Ouellet, Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist.
