Health

With Less Daylight And Pandemic Isolation, Seasonal Affective Disorder Hits Harder

Published November 13, 2020 at 12:25 PM CST

As the hours of daytime grow shorter and winter approaches, many Americans will feel the onset of seasonal affective disorder. Characterized by lethargy, sadness and loneliness, SAD affects about 5% of U.S. adults.

Host Lisa Mullins speaks with several Massachusetts residents and clinical health psychologist Kristin MacGregor about SAD’s impact.

Resources: If you’re looking for help finding support or treatment for SAD, The National Alliance on Mental Illness Massachusetts chapter says you can call its COMPASS Helpline at 617-704-6264 or 1-800-370-9085. Or email compass@namimass.org.

If you’re in mental health crisis, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and the Samaritans Statewide Hotline (call or text) at 1-877-870-HOPE (4673). Call2Talk can be accessed by calling Massachusetts 211 or 508-532-2255 (or text c2t to 741741).

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Earlier sunsets and shorter days can trigger seasonal affective disorder. (AP)