Page updated: 03 Feb 2010
State of the art lightboxes set to help people with Seasonal Affective Disorder
People who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can apply to Trafford's new Psychological Wellbeing Service for a lightbox - technology that substitutes natural light in their homes and prevents the onset of SAD - as part of a national pilot.
People often mistake SAD for the winter blues but it is a clinically recognised condition that creates real problems for sufferers in their day-to-day lives. The new consignment of lightboxes will mean that for many people SAD will not rule their lives this winter.
The boxes are being distributed by the Psychological Wellbeing Service, a new service being provided by charity Self Help Services and the NHS organisation Trafford Provider Services.
Symptoms of SAD include:
- Waking early but finding it difficult to get out of bed
- Finding it hard to get motivation to go to work
- An increase in negative thoughts
- Worrying about things that usually don't seem that important
- Drinking more alcohol or taking more drugs or medication
- Dreading things that are normally routine
- Getting a cold or a sore throat
It affects around two per cent of the population meaning that in Trafford more than 4,600 people* could be suffering from SAD. Trafford is one of three areas in the UK piloting the lightboxes with the Met Office. The boxes have been funded by the North West Strategic Health Authority as part of Trafford PCT's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies project.
"Seasonal affective disorder is so much more than simply feeling a bit low in the winter," explained Nicky Lidbetter, chief officer of Self Help Services. "A few days of overcast or gloomy weather can leave people with SAD feeling depressed, tired and withdrawn. It is a clinically recognised condition that affects thousands people in Trafford.
"These new lightboxes will be used in conjunction with alerts from the Met Office. People who are involved in the pilot have their details entered into a Met Office computer system. Then, when the Met Office picks up indications of an extended period of overcast weather the computer automatically alerts participants by email, text or telephone reminding them to use their lightbox.
"The boxes simulate the natural light that is lost in gloomy weather and keep their chemical balance at the right levels and stops them becoming affected by SAD."
The boxes are portable and add hardly any money to electricity bills - the total additional spend equates to around 2p more every three weeks.
The boxes are due to be delivered to residents by mid-February. People who would like to try one can contact the Psychological Wellbeing Service on 0161 746 2714. They will be assessed by Psychological and Wellbeing practitioners at the service to ensure they have SAD before being considered for the pilot.
* Based on a registered population of 231,042 in July 2009.