Seasonal Affective Disorder - How to Support Your Employees

As the autumnal weather starts to take hold and daylight starts to ebb at a rapid rate, the mood of the general population might take a bit of a downturn. However, for some, the darker mornings and evenings can lead to a greater challenge with their mental health.

Sometimes referred to as seasonal depression or the winter blues, seasonal affective disorder or SAD for short, will doubtless have an effect on someone in your workforce. 

Employers have a responsibility to protect the mental well-being of their employees under their duty of care, so with that said, how can you mitigate the effects that SAD can have on both your employees and your business?

Talk to the experts at Croner to discuss how to combat poor mental health in the workplace and create a productive and positive environment through good policy, HR and Health and Safety  practice. Call 0808 501 6651.

What is seasonal affective disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. Most commonly it usually starts to show around autumn and carries through to the winter months. 

What are the causes of seasonal affective disorder?

Unlike other forms of depression, the trigger causation for SAD is the changing of the seasons, typically the transition from the longer days of summer into the shorter, darker days of autumn and winter. There are several contributing factors for the onset of seasonal depression. 

Reduced sunlight

The shorter days and longer nights, coupled with adverse weather, means a reduction in the amount of natural sunlight exposure and this can lead to the body’s internal clock undergoing disruption. This can lead to developing the symptoms of depression.

Circadian rhythm disruption 

The disruption to your body’s circadian rhythm (the instinctive internal clock that regulates bodily functions according to the time of day) can cause changes to melatonin secretion that can create issues with the sleep/wake cycle. This can have a knock-on effect on sleep quality, leading to feelings of low mood, tiredness and fatigue.

Decreased serotonin

A lack of sunlight and vitamin D can lead to a reduction in the synthesis of serotonin, leading to a decline in mood and energy, contributing to the depressive symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. 

What are the symptoms of SAD?

Individuals can suffer with seasonal affective disorder in much the same way as depression. However just like depression it can impact different people in different ways. Some of the more common signs that may indicate an employee is struggling with seasonal affective disorder, are:

• Persistent low mood.
• Socially isolating.
• Fatigue and low energy.
• Sleep disruption.
• Concentration problems. 
• Appetite changes.
• Fluctuations in body weight.

Impacts of SAD at work

Whilst seasonal affective disorder ultimately has a negative impact on the employee that is suffering from the condition, it can also cause disruption to your business.

Absenteeism

Employees suffering from the effects of SAD may take sickness absence more frequently, which can be a challenge to manage, as well as having a negative impact on workplace productivity.

Presenteeism

Conversely, presenteeism can be just as much of an issue as absenteeism. An employee showing up to work, when they are not really fit to do so, can come with its own set of problems. 

Increased errors, forgetfulness and difficulty in decision making can all have a negative effect on productivity and workplace efficiency.

Whilst this can present an issue for employers it’s important to be mindful and to offer support to your employees who might be struggling with seasonal affective disorder. 

Supporting employees suffering from seasonal affective disorder

There are several ways that employers can offer employees with seasonal affective disorder support.

Create awareness around the condition

Creating awareness for any mental health condition can be a huge boost to an employee who is struggling, as it can help them feel seen and supported. When it comes to raising awareness for seasonal affective disorder, you can provide literature and information on SAD to employees as well as offering information on where employees can find support, such as counselling services.

Remember to include staff who work remotely or on a hybrid model, as remote work can be isolating which may exacerbate the depressive symptoms of SAD. 

Facilitate wellness workshops

Creating a focus on mental health and implementing wellness programmes as part of your mental health policy, can help employees manage their mental health. These workshops can help employees prioritise their mental health as well as develop healthy practices such as mindfulness.

Create social events for staff to engage in both in and out of work 

Organising regular social events for staff to engage with can help keep employees feeling connected and engaged. This is especially true of remote and hybrid workers who can sometimes feel isolated.  

Employ natural/ maximise lighting

Well lit workspaces that encompass natural light may help alleviate some of the symptoms of SAD in the workplace by offering employees more exposure to daylight. Furthermore, encouraging employees to take a walk on their lunch break could also help them with getting more exposure to sunlight. This can help regulate the body’s circadian rhythms and generally improve mood overall. 

Train management/ mental health first-aiders

Equipping management with the knowledge, tools and resources on how to support their team with their mental health is key to identifying the signs that someone might be struggling with seasonal affective disorder. Training them in the ways to approach the subject with understanding and tact can make a word of difference to an employee.

It might also be worth considering training a mental health first aider in your team, this could be a manager, senior staff or an employee. Mental health first aiders can be a great first line of intervention if an employee is struggling, they also give employees a visible and reassuring point of contact. When employees feel supported then productivity has a tendency to project upwards which is good for business.  

EAP

An employee assistance programme, delivered as part of their benefits package is a great way to offer your employees support with their mental health. An EAP can give your workforce easy access to counselling services and resources and should be communicated to employees, so they know how to access them when needed. 

Flexible working

Offering your workforce flexible working arrangements can help those, who are perhaps struggling with the effects of SAD. This can include things like adjusting schedules so an employee can attend appointments like counselling, or allowing them to make the most of the daylight by allowing remote working options. 

Contact Croner for help creating your workplace mental health policy

If you need expert advice on creating a mental health policy for your business, contact the Health and Safety advisory team at Croner. Together we can help you create a legally compliant and supportive policy that benefits your business. Call today on 0808 501 6651.

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