New resources aim to bring light to people living with seasonal depression

Published: 23 October 2023 A new range of creative educational resources is aiming to help people who suffer from low mood during the winter months to bring some light into their lives. A new range of creative educational resources is aiming to help people who suffer from low mood during the winter months to bring some light into their lives. Researchers from the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh led the development of the resources, which draw on the experiences of people living with Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, to help others deal with their winter depression. The Royal College of Psychiatry estimates that about three percent of the population experience SAD, suggesting that more than a million adults in the UK live with the emotional challenges, lowered mood, and feelings of anxiety that can occur during the winter months, when access to natural light is limited. The resources include a new online education course developed with cognitive behavioural therapy experts to help people recognise and tackle their SAD symptoms and a book guide on adopting new creative practices and finding community support during the shorter, darker, wetter months. A new web-based toolkit will offer guidance on how people can set up support groups in their own communities for people affected by SAD. The materials are one of the outcomes from a research project called 'Living with SAD' led by the Glasgow and Edinburgh academics.