3 minute read
Daylight Savings Darkness
Daylight Savings Darkness
How the changing of seasons and daylight savings time affects students’ mental health.
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By Gabrielle Kill
By the winter solstice on Dec. 21, daylight savings and the Earth’s tilting axis mean the sun sets nearly two and a half hours earlier than it did in August. Overcast skies, lower temperatures and shorter days are hallmarks of autumn.
According to The National Institute of Mental Health, less natural light can induce an overproduction of melatonin and a lack of serotonin, key regulators of mood and energy. Without these, symptoms of depression can kick in. Senior Macy Parks says she has dealt with feelings of anxiety and sadness during the change of seasons.
“It has never bothered me until this year,” Parks said. “My sleep schedule [is] so messed up… I feel like it’s harder to actually accomplish things such as actually getting [up] and going to the gym or finishing math homework.”
Parks follows a daily routine at home, only occasionally broken by a drive to Starbucks or the store between classes.
“I try my hardest to not sit in my room all day… but I wake up and brush my teeth and go right back to bed doing first hour math,” Parks said. “Quarantine and cold weather make me feel so trapped in a cycle.”
Without warmth keeping students in nature, and social distancing guidelines preventing visitors from coming inside, depression and loneliness can begin. Though a 2015 study from Psychology Today reports 17 million Americans struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and an estimated further 51 million experience mild SAD, the stigma surrounding mental health creates a barrier to discussing the condition.
Parks, a member of Sources of Strength and a supporter of mental health awareness, wants students affected by winter weather to not feel isolated, even without the community of in-person school and activities.
“My advice would be: don’t be afraid, it’s a normal thing to have,” Parks said. “You are definitely not alone on this subject.”
According to research from the American Academy of Family Physicians, SAD is seven times more common in northern states due to lower temperatures and a lack of sunlight. Though junior Luke Zmijewski said he loves December’s snowy weather and the football games that come with, he understands the season’s struggle.
“In myself and my peers I … have noticed every year for a long time a decline in mental health during winter months,” Zmijewski said. “When I think of winter I think of being stuck inside and just general unhappiness.”
But what can BVN do to prevent it? School social worker Lisa Summers says she advocates healthy coping mechanisms on the school’s counseling Canvas page, in a “virtual calming room.” The virtual space, introduced this year, has animal live streams, yoga walkthroughs, and online art therapy plugins to create a safe space for anxious students.
Activities are chosen strategically to help users slow down and appreciate their surroundings. The calming room was designed for anyone momentarily struggling with mental health — especially pertinent during the change of seasons.
“I think it’s so important just to have access to [coping mechanisms],” Summers said. “I myself love spending time in nature or using the guided meditation on the virtual page.”
Though winter is a difficult time for mental health, Summers said she hopes students will keep coming back to resources like the virtual calming room and the Canvas counseling office page.
“Virtual [learning] scares me because I don’t have access to students as much … I wish I understood exactly what each child is feeling,” Summers said. “But I know we have a strong Mustang community and there’s always help for the kids who need it.”
