Light at the end of the tunnel
Seasonal affective disorder is a depressive illness caused by shortened daylight hours and a lack of sunlight. It is estimated that for roughly 21% of the UK some of the symptoms of SAD cause discomfort and a noticeable change in mood which is know as the "Winter Blues". However, for a further 8%, SAD is a much more serious illness which impedes on life, energy, relationships and general connection with society.
With this being Children's Mental Health week, bear in mind that teenagers suffer from SAD as well. It can be hard to differentiate between normal teenager blues and teenager SAD.
The good news is that light therapy has been shown to be effective for both adults and teenagers.
With half terms looming,the more outdoor activity the better, even if the weather is not great.
source:http://www.sada.org.uk/teen_sad_2.php
source: SADA