What is SAD?

Seasonal Affective Disorder, commonly known as SAD, is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern - primarily affecting individuals during the colder months of the year.  

While the exact cause of SAD is not fully understood, it is believed to be linked to reduced exposure to sunlight during the winter months. Direct correlation is yet to be proven, but many of those tested who suffer from SAD also show reduced levels of Vitamin D; a vitamin typically acquired through the body’s absorption of sunlight. 

This reduction in sunlight can disrupt the body's internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, and lead to a decrease in serotonin levels associated with mood regulation. This then has a knock-on effect on motivation, energy, and focus. 

With 1 in 20 people being diagnosed with SAD in the UK and more men than women likely to suffer from it, it’s clear this type of depression is becoming more and more of a widespread issue.  

A recent study has found that currently nearly 17% of 16 to 24-year-olds think they suffer from SAD and another 11% have been formally diagnosed. With more and more people suffering, it is vital to know what to look out for so you can better support your students. The remainder of this article will review its symptoms, why people suffer from SAD disorder, its impacts, and the best ways to manage it.

The symptoms of SAD can vary in severity but often include: 

These symptoms typically begin in the autumn as daylight hours decrease and continue throughout the winter months. In some cases, symptoms may also emerge in the spring or early summer, although this is less common.

As discussed earlier in this article, people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) primarily due to reduced exposure to sunlight during the winter months. Sunlight plays a crucial role in regulating the body's internal clock, or circadian rhythm, which affects sleep patterns and mood. When daylight decreases, it can disrupt this rhythm, leading to feelings of fatigue and depression. 

This reduced sunlight exposure can cause a drop in serotonin levels that influences your mood, and the impact of lower serotonin levels is highly associated with feelings of depression.  

The shorter days and longer nights also increase the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. Excess melatonin can make individuals feel more lethargic and exacerbate symptoms of depression. 

Genetic factors may also play a role, as some people may be more susceptible to SAD due to inherited traits that affect serotonin regulation. Additionally, those living in higher latitudes, where daylight hours are significantly shorter in winter, are more likely to experience SAD.

Seasonal Affective Disorder can affect anyone, but certain groups are more susceptible. It is most commonly seen in people living in regions with long, dark winters, where daylight hours are significantly reduced. Those in northern latitudes, like Scandinavia, Canada, and the northern United States, are at higher risk due to the prolonged periods of low sunlight during the winter months. 

Some studies have shown that men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with SAD than women, but women are more likely to say they suffer with low moods in autumn and winter compared to men. Whilst other studies have shown women are more likely to suffer from SAD than men during their reproductive years, with the disorder typically starting in young adulthood. However, it has been confirmed SAD can occur at any age.   

People with a family history of depression or other mood disorders are also at greater risk, indicating a potential genetic predisposition. Additionally, individuals who already suffer from depression or bipolar disorder may experience a worsening of symptoms during the winter months, known as winter-pattern depression. 

While SAD can impact anyone, it is particularly prevalent in those who have a personal or family history of mood disorders, live in higher latitudes, or are women in their reproductive years.

For students, SAD can be particularly debilitating. The pressures of academic performance, social integration, and the transition to independent living make the university environment uniquely challenging. When combined with the symptoms of SAD, these challenges can become overwhelming, leading to significant declines in academic performance and overall wellbeing. 

Below is a table of just some of the impacts SAD disorder can have on students and how in turn that impacts universities:

Managing SAD requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of the disorder. While traditional treatments like light therapy, medication, and psychotherapy are effective, there is growing interest in holistic and community-based approaches such as social prescribing. 
 

Traditional treatments and strategies:

1. Light Therapy 

One of the most common treatments for SAD is light therapy, which involves exposure to bright light that mimics natural sunlight. This can help regulate the body's circadian rhythm and boost serotonin levels. 
 

2. Medication 

Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are sometimes prescribed to manage the symptoms of SAD. These medications can help balance serotonin levels in the brain. 
 

3. Psychotherapy 

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for SAD. It helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to depression. 

While these treatments are beneficial, they may not be sufficient on their own for all students. With more and more young people suffering from the disorder each year support services can be stretched and with limited resources, it increases the risk of students not getting the smiley support they need causing their symptoms to decline further. This is where social prescribing can play a crucial role.

Digital Social Prescribing offers a comprehensive approach to managing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) among students by addressing both the symptoms and the underlying social and emotional factors that contribute to the disorder. Here are the key benefits: 

1. Better Holistic Care

Social prescribing provides a holistic approach, targeting not just the depressive symptoms of SAD but also the social isolation and emotional challenges that students may face during the colder months. 
 

2. Personalized Support

With social prescribing, each student's unique needs are addressed. At Access Elemental Social Prescribing we allow for better personalised support to be delivered by connecting students with activities and groups matching their interests as well as allowing students to co-produce their social prescription with either one of your student welfare officers or Link Workers in the community. Our self-referral and self-serve functionality also enables students to be more proactive in managing their mental health and wellbeing. This tailored approach leads to more effective and lasting outcomes, helping students feel understood and supported. 
 

3. Real-Time Access to Services

The Marketplace feature within our Access Elemental platform ensures that students have access to an up-to-date directory of services in real time. This allows them to join groups and activities that resonate with their personal interests and meet others who are also managing SAD, creating a supportive community. By fostering this connection, students are less likely to feel isolated and more likely to succeed academically. 
 

4. Improved Mental Health

By connecting students with relevant activities - such as exercise classes, creative workshops, and peer support groups - digital social prescribing helps alleviate the symptoms of SAD. Engaging in these activities promotes social interaction and physical wellbeing, leading to improved overall mental health. 
 

5. Enhanced Academic Performance

As students' mental health improves through participation in meaningful activities, their academic performance often follows suit. By reducing feelings of isolation and depression, students are better equipped to focus on their studies, thereby increasing the likelihood of academic success and reducing dropout rates. 
 

6. Building Resilience and Community

Social prescribing equips students with the tools and support networks necessary to build resilience. By connecting with others who share similar experiences, students develop coping strategies that not only help them manage SAD but also other challenges throughout their university life. 

Here Access Elemental can be instrumental in integrating social prescribing within your university by offering a platform that centralises all the information you need to cater support to all student needs in one place, including those suffering from SAD.  

We want to make sure that you spend as much time as possible supporting your students by reducing administrative burdens. Here our Marketplace module is one of our standout features for universities by always ensuring your students have safe and assured referral pathways to activities that best match their needs through our advanced and up-to-date directory of services.  

By making it easier for students to find and participate in activities that match their interests, Marketplace fosters greater engagement and helps build a sense of community among students managing SAD. 

For instance, recent data from a collaboration with the University College London (UCL) revealed that while 90% of students referred to social prescribing initially connected with a link worker, only 38% followed through with the intervention. This gap highlights the importance of sustained engagement, which Marketplace addresses by keeping resources relevant and easily accessible, thus encouraging ongoing participation and improving overall community health and wellbeing.

This article has explained how Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can significantly impact anyone’s mental health and wellbeing. By comparing statistics, this article has shown that while some studies show more men have been diagnosed with SAD others show more women suffer from SAD during their reproductive years.  

By explaining the symptoms of SAD, the impacts of SAD on students and universities have also been discussed including its impacts on students’ academic performance, social integration, and overall wellbeing. 

After discussing some of the most typical strategies to manage SAD disorder, this article has explained how innovative strategies such as digital social prescribing can be a powerful tool in managing these challenges to improve student retention and overall student experiences. 

Investing in our social prescribing software therefore provides real-time personalised support by fostering a sense of community to enhance student mental health, academic success, and retention rates.  

As universities continue exploring innovative strategies to support student wellbeing, integrating digital social prescribing with tools like Marketplace is an effective solution. It ensures that students have access to up-to-date resources that meet their needs, enabling them to manage SAD more effectively and focus on achieving their academic goals. 

For more information on how to implement social prescribing in your university download our best practice guide today, or contact us to see first-hand the benefits of Marketplace in action: for your institution, your students, and the future.