| By the start of the final quarter of the year, the days are already growing darker, shorter, and colder. For some students, these changes are regarded as simply a natural part of the arrival of the autumn and winter months. For other students, these changes signal the start of another period of emotional distress. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder that is connected to depression and often marked by a sense of feeling down or hit with the winter blues. When coupled with an existing struggle with depression or another mood disorder, it may worsen the experience and create additional challenges for those already working to maintain their emotional equilibrium. The good news for many is that SAD usually appears during a specific window of time during the year, and for those impacted during the winter months, it should depart when the spring arrives, replacing the period of depression with more normal behavior. Students who struggle with just seasonal changes in their mood may have trouble managing their lives, engaging their studies, and sustaining the momentum necessary to reach their academic goals. That is why it’s important to encourage students who are exhibiting concerning behavior or have self-reported struggling with emotional health to seek assistance from your campus’ emotional support services or connect with the trained counselors available through the WellConnect website. Professional counseling services can help to guide students to outcomes that improve their management of SAD and the impact it has on their lives each year. Assisting students who are even mildly affected by seasonal changes starts with being able to recognize the warning signs. Here are some of the behaviors commonly associated with SAD: An ongoing depression that is present throughout the day A persistent lethargy or demotivation Struggles with being deenergized or fatigued Sleep difficulties that include falling asleep or staying asleep Losing interest in hobbies and maintaining relationships Feeling agitated or high-strung An inability to focus on thoughts or engage others Difficulty starting or completing tasks Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness Regular thoughts about death and suicide If a student self-reports feeling suicidal or you observe behaviors that raise concerns for the immediate wellbeing of a student, follow the guidelines for reporting the incident to the appropriate campus authorities to resolve. Additionally, you may wish to recommend the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which can be reached by calling 988 or by visiting 988lifeline.org. |
| WellConnect provides confidential consultations with a licensed professional for faculty and staff regarding student problems or concerns. In addition, our team is available to discuss behavioral and classroom management issues. If a student comes to you with a situation and you’re not sure what to say, please call our 24/7 FAST-Line at 844-208-7070. The FAST (Faculty Administrator Support Team) Line can be a valuable resource for navigating complex, sensitive or high-risk student situations. Our counselors will consult with you on the situation and help you develop a plan to assist the student. Of course, you can give the student the WellConnect student number, 866-640-4777, and encourage them to call, or even dial the number and hand the student the phone in a location where they will have privacy while talking to a WellConnect counselor. Working collaboratively, we can help students achieve their personal, educational and career goals. |
