What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

Written by: Lyra Cooper

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that typically occurs during the fall and winter months when daylight hours are shorter. This condition can lead to symptoms such as low energy, changes in sleep patterns, and difficulty concentrating, often improving with exposure to more sunlight or light therapy. 

Students at KCI are feeling the effects of winter and weather. When the sky gets darker, people tend to match their mood to the setting, and for most, cold, cloudy weather can drain energy and even make individuals feel  depressed.

Raiders have noticed a clear difference between their moods in summer versus winter. A grade nine student confessed that the season they felt happiest in was “fall because of the new Starbucks menu.” This proves that individuals have resorted to small, and less significant details of their life to keep them happy after the harvest. When asked, students described winter as being tired, freezing, sad, lazy, cold, and depressing.

Around winter, society has progressively seen its fair share of holidays throughout the years, an early ploy to distract citizens from the dreary few months ahead by having parties or get-togethers with family and friends. This is also possibly a sign that SAD has affected humans for centuries.

One grade nine student in particular made an interesting comment on mental health: “It's really terrible that so many people are sad, right? It seems like we must be doing something wrong.”Which brings up the next question: should we find a solution for SAD or should we continue to track it? Teachers, keep in mind that SAD could affect any one or all students.

As proven, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) indeed has a significant impact on our neighbors, family members, friends, and acquaintances, affecting a wide range of individuals across various age groups. This disorder is not a modern phenomenon, and has been influencing people throughout time.