The December 2023 PSA on Seasonal Affective Disorder is Here

December is Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness (SAD) Month

It is estimated that millions of Americans experience SAD, although many may not know they have this common disorder. The risk of SAD increases with age. It's rare in people under age 20. Women are affected more often than men.

There is both a winter-pattern and summer-pattern SAD with the winter-pattern occurring more often. It  is more common in people living farther north, where there are shorter daylight hours in the winter.

You can find valuable information about SAD on these sites:

Johns Hopkins

National Institute of Mental health

Tips for managing SAD from the American Psychological Association include:

• Take in as much daylight as possible. Less sunlight and shorter days are thought to be linked to a chemical change in the brain and may be part of the cause of SAD.
• Eat healthily. Get creative and look for hearty, low-calorie recipes that are easy to prepare.
• Avoid social isolation. Spend time with your friends and family.
• Stay active. Research shows exercise and scheduling pleasant activities can be effective ways to lessen the impact of SAD.
• Seek professional help. If you continue to struggle with feelings of depression, you may want to seek help from a mental health professional.