Although the holidays are a time of celebration for most, many people experience mood changes that begin as the days get shorter and temperatures drop. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or seasonal depression, can affect how a person thinks, feels, and handles daily activities.

In addition to the symptoms of major depression (i.e.- losing interest in activities you once enjoyed, having low energy, or feeling hopeless), symptoms specific to SAD can include:

To learn more about SAD, its symptoms, and treatments, visit this National Institute of Mental Health webpage. For information on countering SAD during COVID, check out this Health.mil article.

While winter months may bring about seasonal depression for some, the holiday season does not necessarily lead to an increase in suicide, as many news articles may hypothesize. A study found that, while suicide rates actually drop during November, December, and January, media reports of the holiday suicide myth continue and can prove harmful. Read more here.

The holidays are a time, however, to ensure safety of any firearms in your home and to ask others who are hosting events with your children about how they store their firearms. Much like summertime, the holidays are a time when days off from school may require parents to find creative childcare solutions. Also, people often visit the homes of family members and their children may wander unsupervised during holiday events. Ask the parents of your child’s playdate and family members you’re visiting if they have firearms in the home and how they are stored. Visit the Brady Campaign for more helpful resources on asking other parents about firearm safety.

Los Centros Médicos de Traumatologías de Carolina del Norte le presentan a continuación un boletín informativo con información para mantener a su familia y a usted seguro durante las fiestas decembrinas y en el invierno.

Seguridad de vacaciones [nfpa.org]

Desorden afectivo esacional [news-medical.net]