'Blue Monday' draws attention to Seasonal Affective disorder in Sask.
The third Monday in January is known as Blue Monday, drawing attention to the depression and the difficulties those suffering from the winter blues face.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), five per cent of the country is affected by Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD).
The CMHA says it’s quite normal for people’s mood to shift due to days being shorter, darker, and colder.
Herman Turcot, who lives in Saskatoon, said his mood is affected by the lack of sunlight in the winter.
“Everyday is a struggle, the sun is not out so it doesn’t help,” said Turcot. “That’s energy that what we need.”
The CMHA said SAD, or a milder version known as the winter blues, affects as many as 15 per cent of Canadians.
“For many people we can all feel it. But for some people, they actually experience a form of depression as a result of Seasonal Affective Disorder,” said the Executive Director of Canadian Mental Association Saskatoon Branch Faith Bodnar.
Bodnar added that Canadians feel the effects due to dark times and shorter days, with people only primarily affected in the Northern Hemisphere.
“For some people it affects their sleep pattern, as well as appetite. They can become very tired and listless so it’s really important to be aware of it,” she said.
Bodnar said the COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges to people dealing with all mental health issues, including those with SAD.
“Prior to COVID we used to say one in five people would experience a mental health issue that requires medical attention, we’re now saying five in five people are experiencing mental health issues,” she said.
The CMHA Saskatoon branch is seeing existing clients four times as frequently.
For people who are experiencing SAD, Bodnar recommends getting outside, exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet, or reaching out to a medical professional. Bodnar also said now is the time for people to be checking in on each other.
“We never want to assume that somebody is okay just because they say they are okay,” said Bodnar. “If you got a family member who is having a little hard of a time, take dinner over to them, give them a call.”
It’s a gesture Turcot knows would go a long way.
“It’s so important, especially given this COVID-19, you got to check on people,” he said.
Those seeking help can contact the Canadian Mental Health Association Saskatoon Branch: info@CMHAsaskatoon.ca or 306-384-9333.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
What a U.S. farmworker’s case of bird flu tells us about tracking the infection
A U.S. farmworker who caught bird flu after working with dairy cattle in Texas appears to be the first known case of mammal-to-human transmission of the virus, a new study shows.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.