As the seasons change and the leaves transition from shades of green to autumnal red, yellow and orange hues, some individuals may begin to experience feelings of melancholy. The drastic shift from summer to fall can have a strong impact on one’s state of mind. The entrance of colder weather can dampen the mood. Dealing with constant shivers, cold harsh winds and less sunlight can be uncomfortable to experience. Although the season of autumn brings beautiful scenery, many fashion statements, sweet treats and pumpkin spice lattes, the fall season also brings with it a gloomy atmosphere that can be difficult to face.
Seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a type of depression that is caused by the change in seasons, specifically when summer transitions into fall. Seasonal depression begins in young adulthood for many. College students are more likely to experience seasonal depression while they navigate through their academic journey. Even maintaining good mental hygiene as a college student can be overwhelming. From the stressors of school-relationships and personal dilemmas to sleep deprivation, poor eating habits, and inconsistent daily routines-a college student’s chances of developing with seasonal affective disorder can be very high.
The environment that a person lives in can definitely impact their mental health, whether that is for better or worse. Being in places that lack sunlight and or often have cold weather can definitely darken someone’s outlook—whereas when individuals are exposed to brighter spaces and warmer climates, the extra doses of light and warmth can act as mood boosters.
Being a student on Andrews University’s campus, the brisk cold weather and the darker days of fall may cause you to feel down in the dumps. Even though depressing feelings may persist for longer than you want them to, there are ways to combat the intense effects of seasonal depression and improve the state of your mental wellbeing. One tip is to seek help from the Counseling & Testing Center (CTC) right here on campus. There, trained professionals are willing to listen to you and support you as you deal with the life-altering factors that seasonal depression can cause. Another tip is to have a steady sleep schedule that you can stick to. As college students, it can be hard to keep a consistent sleep schedule with all of the assignments, deadlines and activities that we have to keep up with. However, it is very important that we make it a priority to sleep on time and get a standard 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Getting enough sleep can help to lessen the effects of seasonal depression as well as reduce the chances of even experiencing it. The last tip is to make it a habit to practice self care, whether that is through time with God, working out, going on a daily walk for 5-10 minutes, taking advantage of the sunlight that tries to peek throughout the day, reading a book, or watching your favorite movie. Although life can get pretty hectic pretty fast, try your best to find time to tend to your garden emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Even though Andrews University is a private institution affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist church, the approach that Andrews University takes in addressing mental health issues is different from that of the Seventh-day Adventist church. The difference in approaches presents a clear distinction between knowing and not knowing the benefits of having accessible mental health care. For years, the SDA church has unofficially maintained the stance that mental illness is something that can only be prayed away, and that any individuals who are dealing with mental illness should either pray for God to renew their faith or suffer in silence in order to avoid judgment and criticism. This approach only worsens the effects that mental illness has on individuals and does not leave room for these individuals to access the care that they need. In recent years, the topic of mental health has become a growing discussion in the church and in the world. The Seventh-day Adventist church is beginning to take actionable steps to normalize seeking mental health services and being more welcoming to people who have mental health issues. Furthermore, in speaking about the effects that mental health issues such as seasonal depression can have on one’s way of life, it is important to know that building a spiritual relationship with God, as well as being open to utilizing the available mental health services, are both important ways that all individuals, especially college students, can help to improve the quality of their life as they encounter seasonal changes.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.