Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is defined by the NHS as ‘ a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern, it is sometimes known as a ‘winter depression’ due to the symptoms being more apparent and more severe during the winter’. 

As a nation we are seemingly obsessed with the weather and recently our weather has been very wet and dreary. Around 2 million people in the UK suffer with SAD. It is quite commonplace for a lot of individuals to be affected by the changing seasons and the weather, whether it’s the onslaught of continuous wet and rainy weather or the lack of sunshine we experience, it can and it does take its toll on us all, in very different ways. 

Symptoms of SAD 

• Having trouble waking up, and sleeping more than usual 
• Feeling tired and lethargic 
• Feeling more hungry than usual and craving stodgy and sugary carbohydrates 
• Gaining weight 
• Finding it hard to stay connected with family and friends 
• Feeling anxious, irritable, and experiencing a low mood 
• Having difficulty concentrating or making decisions 
• Feeling heavy, sluggish, and moving slowly 
• Feeling helpless or having suicidal thoughts 

Some of us may feel unmotivated and tired during the darker winter months but this shouldn’t be dismissed as just a ‘bad day’, for someone suffering with SAD it is a serious condition, and can be seriously debilitating to an individual.  

Signs to spot in an individual 

• Increased absences during the winter months 
• Concentration problems at work, especially during the winter months and seasonal changes 
• Lack of energy for someone who is normally full of energy 
• Mood swings or changes 
• Comfort eating 

Whilst this shows you some of the signs to watch out for, as an employer or line manager it is worth ensuring that you continue to have regular 121 or catch-up meetings with your employee’s so that you can better understand your employees and give them the support they need. 

What can I do to support employees affected by SAD? 

There are a number of things that you can do to ensure that you are supporting your employees, this can be ensuring that you are regularly checking in with the employee to understand how they are managing and/or how to support through to providing an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). An EAP will give your employee’s further support with mental health, most EAP providers provide telephone support 24/7. 

The NHS advise various self-help techniques that can help individuals and as an employer you may wish to implement some of these ideas in the workplace too: 

• Trying to get as much natural sunlight as possible, recommend that your employee’s go for a walk outside during their lunch breaks 
• Try to make your workplace, which may include your home environment as light as possible to bring the natural light in 
• Try to re-arrange your work space so that employees are sat next to windows if possible 
• Encourage employees to take plenty of exercise and time away from their desks, particularly encourage employees to go out doors in the natural daylight 
• Encourage healthy eating, maybe offer free fruit in the workplace 
• Try to avoid stressful situations. 

Remember that each individual may experience different symptoms and signs of SAD, provide your employees with support by encouraging and trying to implement some of the above ideas into their lives and into your workplace and if you need further support or guidance with regards to SAD or mental health in the workplace then View HR can support you with this so please do get in touch with the team to find out more.