Winter is part of the culture in Minnesota. Complaints – and jokes – about the cold weather, snow and wind factors are second nature.
But for some people, the darkest days of winter bring the clear onset of darkness. You may experience more anxiety, mood swings, and lethargy. Once known as the “winter blues,” what we now call seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a well-known mental health issue.
Depressed employees are less engaged and productive at work. What can employers do to support staff?
“Employers should be aware that, for example, with shorter daylight hours, an employee accustomed to leaving work while the sun is still shining may lose serotonin while their brain increases melatonin, throwing off the rhythm of his circadian and sleep cycles. said Katie Lee, a spokeswoman for Mental Health America.
Short days are not the only factor.
“SAD can be exacerbated by the holidays as stress levels increase, worries about finances increase and social situations cause anxiety,” Lee said.
Statistics from Virginia-based Mental Health America show that approximately 5% of people in the US experience seasonal depression. The nonprofit says 4 out of 5 people who experience seasonal depression are women.
A summary from the National Institute of Mental Health indicates that SAD symptoms begin in the late fall and early winter and begin to improve in the spring. The NIMH noted that additional symptoms can include excessive sleeping, excessive eating, weight gain, and social withdrawal. The latter can be considered a human version of “hibernation” for the season.
The best cure for SAD is to get outside for 30 minutes a day, no matter how cold it might be, said Jean Larson, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota’s Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing.
“It’s just about getting outside and letting that natural light into your system,” Larson said. “And letting the sun into your indoor space.”
Furniture retailer Room & Board has a fitness center with wellness rooms at its Golden Valley campus. One of them has a seasonal light therapy lamp, a tool that many have found to be helpful when dealing with SAD.
Statistics from Mental Health America show that bright light therapy can be effective for up to 85% of SAD sufferers.
“We’ve had it for many, many years. It’s used quite often,” said Nancy Greatrix Manley, chief people officer at Room & Board.
Some employees have therapy lights on their desks. Employees may also be reimbursed for the purchase of a therapy lamp through the benefits program.
Room & Board has natural light throughout its spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows and rooftops. The offices overlook an outdoor courtyard.
“There’s just light everywhere. It’s a terrible time of year, I think, if you’re in an office building with no windows,” Manley said. “There may be people who struggle year-round with depression, but it’s worse in the winter months because of the lack of light.”
Manley said the company strives to create an “overall emotionally healthy place to work” with a holistic emphasis on wellness, mindfulness and mental health.
Room & Board offers a hybrid work schedule where staff can be in the office two or three days a week. Manley said connecting with other people is good for everyone’s health.
Brain wellness is at the core of the mission for the Minneapolis-based American Academy of Neurology, a medical membership organization.
“When we built our building in the Minneapolis Mill District in 2013, it was designed with lots of windows so that staff had workspaces filled with natural light. AAN has programs for staff that include webinars and SAD-specific materials, as well as access to online occupational therapy,” said Mary Post, AAN chief executive.
AAN plans to introduce light boxes in its wellness room in 2023, she said.
Staff surveys have shown that flexibility is the top request from employees, Post said. AAN’s current hybrid schedule requires you to work in the office two days per week, with three days remote.
Post said the surveys focus on finding ways to “reduce stress, improve mental health and cultivate a work-life balance.”
People who live in northern latitudes like Minnesota are more susceptible to SAD, Larson said.
“Our days are shorter,” Larson said. “When our days are shorter, we have lower serotonin levels.”
The university offers its own resources for employees and students struggling with seasonal depression.
Libraries on the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus offer light therapy lamps that can be controlled by staff and students. Each library also has two study carts with SAD lamps that can be reserved.
“Through our health benefits, the cost of light therapy lamps can be covered by a flexible spending account,” said Mary Rohman Kuhl, senior director of Total Rewards, the university’s benefits and wellness program.
Kuhl said the school employee assistance program (EAP) is another resource.
“Employees can also use our EAP provider’s free coaching services to create an action plan for maintaining their daily routine, which can also help combat SAD symptoms,” she said.
SAD sufferers — and Minnesotans in general — can be relieved to know that we’ve turned an important seasonal corner. The winter solstice last Wednesday marked the shortest day of the year. Daylight will increase between now and June.
The saved time returns on March 12.
