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Counselling therapist Kailea Switzer says movement can help regulate our mood and energy. (Submitted by Kailea Switzer)<\/p>\nIt\u2019s that time of year again.<\/p>\n
The days are getting shorter, the temperature is dropping and the warm, sunny days of summer are behind us. While some enjoy this shift into fall and winter, others find seasonal change can be mentally draining.<\/p>\n
Staff at the Canadian Mental Health Association on P.E.I. say they see an increase in calls for support at this time of year. One of the biggest reasons: reduced daylight and fewer outdoor activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s the general sense of just not feeling good and having a lot of hard time with feeling depressed and anxious. It just intensifies this time,\u201d Jana Burns, a peer support worker with CMHA, told CBC\u2019s Island Morning.<\/p>\n
Get outside when you can<\/p>\n
Burns said there are simple steps people can take to protect their mental health as winter approaches, and one of the biggest is to get outdoors.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust getting yourself outside in the daylight during the daylight hours is super helpful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
LISTEN | Tips to protect your mental health as the days get darker:<\/p>\n
Island Morning7:40Tips to protect your mental health as the days get darker<\/p>\n
As summer fades and the days grow shorter, many people start to feel the effects on their mood. Jana Burns, a peer support worker with the Canadian Mental Health Association, joins us to share some tips to take care of your mental health during the darker months.<\/p>\n
Light therapy lamps are another option for people affected by seasonal depression, Burns said. Public libraries across P.E.I. offer them to borrow.<\/p>\n
Staying active<\/p>\n
Exercise can also make a big difference, Burns said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think people get scared of that, and they think it’s going to be something like super intense, but it doesn’t have to be, just being connected and active\u2026 Yoga and stretching or walking, those are simple things,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Kailea Switzer, a counselling therapist based in Charlottetown, agrees keeping up movement is especially important in colder weather.<\/p>\n
Counselling therapist Kailea Switzer says movement can help regulate our mood and energy. (Submitted by Kailea Switzer)<\/p>\n
Even everyday activities, like shovelling snow to music or stretching, can help.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know movement will regulate our mood and energy, and especially when natural light is low, it can create internal energy, even when you know the outside world is feeling more tiring,\u201d Switzer said.<\/p>\n
Embracing the season, and each other<\/p>\n
Burns said it can be difficult to motivate someone who\u2019s struggling to be active. That\u2019s when social connection matters most, even if it\u2019s low-key.<\/p>\n
She suggests cozy activities like watching a show together, playing board games or sharing a warm drink. It\u2019s all about embracing the cozy vibe of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s those tiny little things that can sometimes make a difference in your comfort level,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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The change into colder weather and shorter days with reduced daylight can be mentally draining for some people. (Ben Nelms\/CBC)<\/p>\n
Switzer agrees. She said one of the most important things people can do to cope with cooler weather is to embrace the season rather than resist it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat people tend to do is like focus on wishing it was summer and counting down the days until the terrible weather is over. But I’ve noticed that people can feel a lot better if they take more of an open approach to winter,\u201d Switzer said.<\/p>\n
That might look like finding a pair of snow pants, picking up used skates or cross-country skis from Facebook Marketplace, or even searching for the best hot chocolate on the Island.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything that allows you to get out of survival mode and trying to make winter something you can lean into trying to experience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Switzer added that being intentional about staying social is also vital for mental well-being in the colder months, when opportunities for connection don\u2019t happen as naturally.<\/p>\n
\u201cOften people will develop more social anxiety the more they stay in, so even though that can feel stressful to make those plans, we think of it as a prevention strategy so that we don’t get too lonely,\u201d Switzer said.<\/p>\n
Reach out for help<\/p>\n
Switzer encourages people to pay attention if they notice themselves withdrawing, feeling more anxious or losing interest in things they enjoy. Reaching out early, like to a friend or a therapist, can make a big difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cTry not to wait until things get too bad\u2026 because at that time, it becomes hard to have the energy to get the help,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Burns said CMHA\u2019s services are there to support Islanders.<\/p>\n
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The CMHA’s peer support program offers support groups across the Island for people to participate in. (Lipik Stock Media\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
The organization offers a peer support program where staff meet one-on-one with individuals. It\u2019s self-referral and non-clinical, and all peer support workers have lived experience with mental health or addictions challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople can come in and talk about what’s going on their life. [It\u2019s a] judgment-free space. It’s 100 per cent confidential and just a safe space to kind of connect and hear from somebody else who has their own lived experience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
There are also group sessions available as part of the peer support program. People can join support groups throughout the week, and there are options across the Island to choose from.<\/p>\n
Burns added that CMHA offers additional programs, including family programs and Life After Suicide Loss programs.<\/p>\n