Q&A: Weather Climate Psychologist Discusses Mental Health’s Link to Seasons

guest contributor fourth-year lara strydom

People have been taking refuge in the outdoors now more than ever before as we search for ways to safely socialize during this pandemic. But not only can the outdoors help us avoid isolation, it can actually have a tangible impact on our mood and mental health. The UGA Office of Sustainability (OoS) spoke with UGA Weather and Climate Psychologist Dr. Alan Stewart to hear more about how nature affects us and how these effects might change as we move into cooler weather.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

OoS: What is the psychology behind being outside and being in nature?

Dr. Stewart: Natural settings tend to be calming and relaxing. It can help a person to clear their mind, to be able to think a little bit more clearly, to alleviate some of the stressors that might otherwise get in the way of your decision making judgment. And since we spent so much of our ancestral past in wild and natural settings, we've become calibrated and acclimatized to spending time in nature. When we return to nature — unless there's something extreme or dangerous happening in nature — it usually ends up being a restorative experience. It creates more of a sense of connection with the natural world. I talk about this in my environmental psychology class, but even in hospital settings, researchers have discovered that access to a window that has a nice landscape or topography to look out at can help with physical healing.

OoS: Lately it has seemed like people need the outdoors now more than ever. One, because it’s a place for people to get their social connection in a little bit of a safer environment, but also because the pandemic has really been increasing a lot of mental health issues.

Dr. Stewart: I don't have any direct research data about this, but I understand that people are putting off physical health care because of the pandemic and I think we're seeing sort of the same thing with mental health care to some extent. I think after the pandemic wanes, we're going to see a big increase in the needs for mental health services from people who've had losses: losses of jobs or roles, losses of family members, economic losses.

OoS: As you’ve been talking about how the outdoors can affect our mood, I’m also interested in hearing how colder weather might affect people this year. More specifically, in my research I found that about 20% of all Americans suffer from seasonal affective disorder. Could you explain the psychology behind this disorder?

Dr. Stewart: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is something that occurs to individuals who are particularly sensitive to the decreased sunlight in the winter season. The lack of light results in a lack of stimulation to certain parts of our brain centers and for some people this can result in depression.

OoS: Could seasonal affective disorder be even more challenging this winter considering the current state of the world?

Dr. Stewart: You know here in Georgia, not only are the days shorter, but the winter season can bring weather systems with cloud cover that diminishes the sunlight. And now with the recommendation to shelter-in-place and self-quarantine for a two-week period if you are exposed or test positive for COVID-19, I think this could add another layer of challenges for people. That is, the combination of the COVID-19 threat mixed with the flu threat along with the vulnerability some people may have for seasonal affective disorder could make this winter especially difficult. Especially if COVID-19 related lifestyle changes inhibit a people’s ability to cope with the tactics they are used to using.

OoS: What kind of advice do you have for people who might struggle with seasonal affective disorder?

Dr. Stewart: There is a really good book by Norman Rosenthal called “Winter Blues: Everything You Need to Know to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder” that is a good resource for people that may struggle with seasonal affective disorder. But just like any kind of psychological challenge, the solution has to be tailored to that individual. So people should consider getting supportive counseling or maybe see a psychiatrist for short-term antidepressant medication for the winter season, especially if their symptoms are severe. Another recommended way of coping is using the lights in your house (eg., sitting by a window that provides good natural lighting). There are also special types of lights used to help with seasonal affective disorder that emit wavelengths similar to the wavelengths of the light from the sun.

OoS: How can people avoid isolation even as things get colder and as we continue to deal with the risks of the pandemic?

Dr. Stewart: Find a way to get together while staying separated. See if someone has a nice outside space with a fire pit where people can practice social distancing while enjoying the natural environment.

Poems dedicated to this topic:

Deep Observations by Anchal Kumar

Sounds of the Seasons by Caela Gray

As Long as the Foliage is Plentiful by Jacob Porter

Remembrance by Caela Gray

Emotional Pandemic by Anchal Kumar

Everything is Waiting by Carlie Gambino

For more treatment and self-care advice visit:

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/self-care/#collapsef1071

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/treatments/

For guidance on choosing a light therapy box visit:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/in-depth/seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment/art-20048298