Navigating Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is depression that affects someone only at a specific time of year.  That time of year mostly occurs during the fall and winter months when there is less light during the day.  SAD can be difficult to manage because many people who experience this depression are not aware that there is an underlying problem.  An estimated 4-6% of people in the United States suffer from winter-onset SAD, and 10-20% of people deal with a milder form of the disorder.  The symptoms associated with SAD are similar to those associated with other depressive disorders including:

• Changes in mood such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and irritability
• Lack of enjoyment in activities that are usually enjoyable
• Changes in sleeping and eating habits
• Difficulty concentrating

These are just a few of the symptoms that people struggling with SAD may experience.  SAD usually begins in young adulthood meaning that teenagers and young adults are at a higher risk of experiencing this disorder.  The best thing to do if you notice any of these signs or symptoms in your teenager or yourself is to talk to your doctor about it.  Health care professionals are able to screen for SAD and can recommend next steps such as coping mechanisms at home, seeking professional therapy, and possibly medicine to help with symptoms of depression.  Here is a list of some coping mechanisms you can try if you or your child are experiencing symptoms.  Click on the links below for more information.

• Spend time outdoors or exercise
• Spend time with others
• Keep a journal
• Let more light into your home
• Be open with friends and family about your struggles and build a support network

Resources

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal Affective Disorder and Depression in Teens

Prevention Highlight of the Month:
Governor DeWine Vetoes House Bill 513

Governor Mike DeWine vetoed House Bill 513 on Thursday, January 5th in a big win for youth substance use prevention.  House Bill 513 would have put a law in place prohibiting localities from making the decision to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products.  This bill was put together following the City of Columbus' vote to ban flavored tobacco products in December 2022.  Their ban will go into affect January 1st, 2024.  Governor DeWine commented on his decision and said, "“This measure is not — is not in the public interest,.. And therefore, just a few minutes ago, I have vetoed this bill. There is the well documented danger of tobacco products. I think we all know medical experts have been warning about the dangers of tobacco for decades.”  According to the 2022 report from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than 3 million middle and high school students used tobacco in the past 30 days.  Governor DeWine also cited a statistic that says 81% of youth ages 12 to 17 who have used tobacco reported a flavored tobacco product as being their first experience with tobacco.  Prevention efforts have faced a new challenge in recent years with the growing popularity of flavored tobacco products and e-cigarettes.  Giving cities the power to ban flavored tobacco products is a great first step towards irradicating this threat to public health especially amongst youth.  Check out the article below for more information.

Ohio Capitol Journal: Ohio Gov. DeWine Vetoes Tobacco Measure That Would Prohibit Local Bans