By Karli Dellar, staff writer
The effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder and depression see their greatest rise in the winter, and if students don’t seek help immediately the repercussions can lead to self injury and even suicide.
In 2013, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reported 41,149 suicides, making suicide the 10th leading cause of death in America.
“In the winter we have less availability to sunlight, which contributes to serotonin levels in our brains, which makes us happy,” said Megan Meyer, an Indian Trail psychology teacher. “The days are shorter, it’s cloudy a lot and cold. All these things are Debbie downers that contribute to lower moods, [symptoms] can last from fall to early spring or, depending on the person, a shorter time.”
SAD manifests itself as recurrent fall or winter depression, characterized by excessive sleeping, social withdrawal, overeating, and pronounced weight gain. SAD affects an estimated 6 percent of Americans. For reasons not yet understood, 80 percent of those affected are women. Most children who are affected have a close relative who also has SAD or another psychiatric condition, according to the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia.
Some students are affected by S.A.D at different times of the year.
“Usually in the summer I’m affected the most,” said Madi Nunez, a General Studies freshman.
Some people aren’t affected at all by S.A.D. Five out of seven students that were asked if they knew about the disorder or if they were affected by it answered that they knew about it, but weren’t affected by it.
“Depression carries a high risk of suicide. This is the worst but very real outcome of untreated or undertreated depression,” according to Web MD.
But for those students that feel suicidal or that have a friend that may feel that way, there are counselors here to help out with whatever is making them struggle.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression is when the symptoms get severe enough that they start to interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life.
“Ninety percent of people who engage in self harm begin during their teen and preadolescent years,” said Health Place, the largest consumer mental health site on the internet.
Self harm is a way of coping for some individuals, but it is a bad coping skill, one of the most deadly coping skills that can be used.
“After presentations there are levels of student who come forward who feel depressed or may think they have symptoms,” said Art Preuss, an Indian Trail school counselor.
If teachers see signs in their students, they may approach them to try and see what is bothering them.
“If I have a student whom I believe is having a problem I approach them first,” said Kelli Cairo, a Family Consumer and Business teacher.
Students experiencing frequent depression should seek help from a counselor or healthcare provider as soon as possible. Use the tools available and let others help. They are here to listen.
Some contacts include: S.A.F.E: (800) 366-8288
Suicide help: (800) 784-2433 Talk: (800) 273-8255