Home / Conditions /
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
If you live in Gloucestershire or Herefordshire and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is affecting your everyday life, we can help. Find out more about the services we offer below.
What is seasonal affective disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression which is affected by the seasons. Symptoms tend to be more severe in winter.
Getting help
If your mood is affecting your daily life, you should seek help as soon as possible.
Let’s talk can help
Let’s Talk is our Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service. We offer guidance, courses and talking therapies that give you the skills and techniques to manage difficult days, lift your mood and improve your overall wellbeing.
It is a free service and is there to listen, help and suggest the best way forward for you.
How to access Let’s Talk
You can refer yourself to Let’s Talk by calling 0800 073 2200, or you can ask you GP to refer you.
For more information about the support available, please visit the Let's Talk website.
Treatment options
Treatments for SAD might include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), medication and light therapy. There are also a number of things you can try yourself such as ensuring you get as much natural sunlight as possible, sit near windows when indoors and take plenty of exercise.
Find out more about treatments for SAD on the NHS Choices website.
Our teams and services
Where to find us, and which services can help you.
Living with a mental health condition
Information for patients and carers on the wider aspects of living with a mental health condition.
Mental illness can affect many areas of your life. This section has information on many aspects of your daily life, from physical health to work, education and recovery. Select an area below to learn more:
Five Ways to Wellbeing
- Connect with people - your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Speaking to people over the telephone or online can help, but there’s nothing like being in the company of others to boost your mood.
- Get active - take a walk, go cycling, join a dance class, go swimming or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life. Anything that raises your heart rate – even cleaning the house – can help.
- Keep learning – give yourself a sense of achievement and a new confidence. Why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, learn a new language, or figure out how to fix your bike?
- Give - even the smallest act can count - whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you make new friends.
- Be mindful - be more aware of the present moment, including your feelings and thoughts, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness ‘mindfulness’ and it can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
These are proven techniques to help boost your general wellbeing and they are things we can all incorporate into our daily lives. If you want to make your mental health and wellbeing a priority, following these steps is a good place to start.
Drugs and alcohol
Support in Gloucestershire
CGL Gloucestershire is a free and confidential drug and alcohol service for adults (including offenders), families, carers and affected others. They provide information, support, advice and treatment options from three main hubs across the county - Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud. They also work from a range of other locations including pharmacies and community venues. https://www.changegrowlive.org/content/cgl-gloucestershire
Support in Herefordshire
Addaction Herefordshire offers information, advice and support for people with drug and alcohol issues every weekday, and on alternative Saturdays. There is a young people’s service for those aged 11+. Their recovery-focused service has bases in Hereford as well as outreach via partner organisations. They aim to support people to overcome their issues and develop the skills necessary to go on to live a fulfilling life in recovery. They also support the families of people with substance misuse issues. www.addaction.org.uk/services/addaction-herefordshire
Money and mental health
Money and mental health are often linked. Poor mental health can make managing money harder and worrying about money can make your mental health worse. This website gives information about the relationship between money worries and mental health, with suggestions on how to address them.
The Money Advice Service is also a good source of information and support around money and debt.
Employment
Medical records
- your name
- address
- date of birth
- any other information which would help locate your file
Please note: there may be a charge for this service. If you think that information in your health records may not be accurate, please notify us in writing.
Medication
Pregnancy and mental health
Taking your medication whilst pregnant
If you are on medication, or specific medication has been suggested to you, the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website is a helpful resource. This free service gives the most up-to-date, evidence-based information for women and their families. This website is an excellent resource but please still discuss any medication changes with your doctor.
Smoking
Did you know?
- Smoking is the primary reason for the 10 to 20 year shortened life expectancy for people with a mental health disorder. Smoking causes cancer, cardio vascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- People with mental health conditions consume 42 per cent of all tobacco bought in the UK
- Many think smoking is a mood enhancer - in fact it causes depression, stress and anxiety
- Smokers have a 79 per cent increased risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
These are just some of the reasons why cutting down or giving up smoking altogether can have a huge impact on improving your health and wellbeing.
How to get help quitting
- If you are one of our service users, ask to speak to a Smokefree Champion or Quit Advisor
- If you live in Gloucestershire, visit hlsglos.org or ring 0800 122 3788
- You can also call the national Smokefree helpline on 0800 022 4332 (Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm)
- GPs can provide advice and prescriptions for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products and most surgeries have nurses who offer a stop smoking service
- The national Smokefree website includes a wide range of support options and advice
Housing information
Information for professionals
Let's Talk is our Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service for patients registered with a GP in Gloucestershire or Herefordshire.
Patients are able to self-refer; however Primary Health Care Professionals can refer patients to our service on their behalf.
Find out more about referring a patient to Let's Talk on our dedicated website - www.talkghc.nhs.uk/health-professionals
Further help and support
Other organisations who can help or who partner with us.
News
News stories linked to seasonal affective disorder and related conditions.
£375k boost for county mental health services
The county council and Gloucestershire’s NHS have secured £375,000 in extra funding, over three years, to help prevent suicide and improve the positive mental wellbeing of people in Gloucestershire. The money, which is part of a national NHS England and NHS...
Trust Expert by Experience shares his story for World Mental Health Day
Ed Boait, an expert by experience with Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, has had a short story included in an e-book published to coincide with World Mental Health Day. Ed has been working with the Trust as an expert by lived experience for several...
Helen’s Story – Stress, Anxiety and Depression
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, we are sharing stories of how people have benefited from ²gether services. Helen, age 40, from Gloucestershire, contacted Let’s Talk on the advice of her GP. She said: “My GP advised me that the chronic teeth grinding I had...
