Weather, social media affect holiday mental illness

Tierra Combs | Staff Writer

The days are becoming shorter, and the sun is disappearing behind the snowy clouds. The environment is changing as winter approaches and so is students’ mental health. According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, the ‘holiday blues,’ or mental illnesses that affect people during the winter, affect 64 percent of people. Despite what people may think, holiday mental illnesses even includes teens and students.

Many people actually feel the predispositions to holiday mental health problems without realizing it. Unrealistic expectations are reported as one of the main reasons for holiday mental health issues. The mainstream media has regularly depicted the holidays as a perfect time for families and couples to come together and celebrate. However, this is not always how the holidays go on. Every single family is different, and they all celebrate differently. This gap between expectations and reality can be a large factor in how people develop mental illness.

“A lot of teens don’t have the family that the media shows, and because students are constantly looking at the media, they are always seeing these media expectations,” said Jason Bagwell, SHS psychology teacher.

Unrealistic expectations can be a large factor in holiday mental illnesses. However, a scientific explanation exists for these mental illnesses.

“A lot of times, people just aren’t getting their vitamin D. It can really affect people’s mood. It can also lead to a vitamin deficiency,” said Beth Walton, SHS health teacher.

The decrease in vitamin D is caused by the arrival of winter conditions. When winter approaches, the environment changes drastically. The cold weather and shorter days shift in, and the sun is visible less often. The lack of exposure to sunlight affects the amount of vitamin D people receive. In addition to the lack of sunlight, the length of the days become a lot shorter. The decrease in vitamin D can also affect one’s mood and make people more susceptible to holiday mental illnesses.

No matter how someone is feeling during the holidays knowing that the weather will change and that they are supported is an immense relief. It can give hope to people who are going through this time and to people around them.