As days get shorter, Islanders reminded to check in on their mental health

It’s that time of year again.

The days are getting shorter, the temperature is dropping and the warm, sunny days of summer are behind us. While some enjoy this shift into fall and winter, others find seasonal change can be mentally draining.

Staff at the Canadian Mental Health Association on P.E.I. say they see an increase in calls for support at this time of year. One of the biggest reasons: reduced daylight and fewer outdoor activities.

“It's the general sense of just not feeling good and having a lot of hard time with feeling depressed and anxious. It just intensifies this time,” Jana Burns, a peer support worker with CMHA, told CBC’s Island Morning.

Burns said there are simple steps people can take to protect their mental health as winter approaches, and one of the biggest is to get outdoors.

“Just getting yourself outside in the daylight during the daylight hours is super helpful,” she said.

Light therapy lamps are another option for people affected by seasonal depression, Burns said. Public libraries across P.E.I. offer them to borrow.

Exercise can also make a big difference, Burns said.

“I think people get scared of that, and they think it's going to be something like super intense, but it doesn't have to be, just being connected and active… Yoga and stretching or walking, those are simple things,” she said.

Kailea Switzer, a counselling therapist based in Charlottetown, agrees keeping up movement is especially important in colder weather.

Even everyday activities, like shovelling snow to music or stretching, can help.

“We know movement will regulate our mood and energy, and especially when natural light is low, it can create internal energy, even when you know the outside world is feeling more tiring,” Switzer said.

Burns said it can be difficult to motivate someone who’s struggling to be active. That’s when social connection matters most, even if it’s low-key.

She suggests cozy activities like watching a show together, playing board games or sharing a warm drink. It’s all about embracing the cozy vibe of the season.