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Under pressure: Let there be light
Dark mornings and cold nights can trigger the winter blues, but there’s lots you can do to get through it
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or HVAC workers there’s an added challenge as many are not only going to work in darkness but also then working in dark, dirty spaces. A lack of sunlight can impact on your mental health and some people get seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It’s actually quite Lack of sunlight can adversely common in the affect your mental health UK. According to the Royal What can I do? College of Psychiatrists, about three The good news is simple things make people in every 100 have significant a big difference. Some people sit in winter depressions. front of specialist light lamps every How do I know I’ve got it? day. The National Institute for Clinical The symptoms are a low mood and a Excellence advises: lack of interest in life, being less active than normal, sleeping more, changes in • Get as much natural sunlight as appetite and being unable to concentrate. possible – even a brief lunchtime walk can be beneficial What are the causes? • Make your work and home The lack of light is believed to impact environments as light and airy on production of the hormones as possible melatonin and serotonin and disrupt • Sit near windows when you’re indoors the body’s biological clock. • Take plenty of outdoor exercise • Eat a balanced diet. NICE adds: “It can also be helpful to talk to your family and friends, so they understand how your mood changes during the winter.” The CIPHE is also there to help. Membership director Tim Sainty says: “One of the benefits of membership
is a healthcare scheme. This includes free access to a comprehensive range of health and wellbeing services (see page 30), meaning you’ll have access to a team of specialists who are on hand to offer advice and reassurance. “Nothing is more important to you than your health and the health of your family – especially at the moment. Diagnosis and treatment can be dealt with efficiently, helping you to concentrate on getting well.”
Find out more •M ental health charity Mind www.mind.org.uk • T he Lighhouse Club is a charity that provides wellbeing support to construction workers and their families www.lighthouseclub.org •A bout Seasonal Affective Disorder www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problemsdisorders/seasonal-affective-disorder-(sad)
Nothing is more important to you than your health
www.ciphe.org.uk
NOV / DEC 2020
P&H ENGINEERING 33
