Summertime sadness: How to combat seasonal depression in the spring, summer months
CTV
As the weather begins to get warmer, some people experiencing a shift in mood triggering anxiety or depression could be experiencing seasonal affective disorder, explains one mental health expert.
With temperatures getting warmer and days getting longer, many Canadians may be gearing up for fun summer activities. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for those experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
SAD can affect a person's mood with feelings of depression, anxiety and disruption to their sleeping and eating habits, according to CAMH. However, these health triggers are not just confined to the depths of winter.
Vice President of Mental Health at GreenShield, Harriet Ekperigin told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on Thursday, the condition can impact the spring and summer months as planning or participating in certain activities can be an added stressor for those who may have health or financial reasons preventing them from participating, or for parents and mothers who take on the responsibility of planning the summer schedule for their families.
Ekperigin explains women often take over the summer planning for their children like searching for daycare options or planning ahead for back-to-school necessities like uniforms and school supplies.
An online survey conducted by GreenShield found that Canadian mothers spend 44 per cent of their time taking care of others over themselves, and 22 per cent spend less time on their mental health in comparison to women without children.
Additionally, various societal groups for women can also affect their mental health, the survey claims, as it reported 31 per cent of immigrant women in Canada spend less time on self-care practices and 15 per cent less time on their mental health than women born in Canada.
"There's just so much that we put on ourselves, that women especially, end up feeling the brunt of this kind of summer, springtime preparation and the symptoms of depression and anxiety are prevalent during this time," Ekperigin told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on Thursday.
