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Neath Port Talbot Council has joined library services across the UK in the ‘Wintering Well Scheme’, first developed by researchers from the University of Edinburgh and University of Glasgow with help from people who experience SAD.
 

Rachel Dineen-Mabe, Branch Librarian at Skewen Library says she herself experiences SAD, and has been telling us how it affects her:

"SAD can affect people in different ways. For me, I really struggle with getting out of bed, doing chores, it makes me just want to sleep all the time. It feels a bit like my body wants to hibernate. My mood will fluctuate a look; the darker it is, the lower my mood and the lighter it is, the better my mood.

“For others, SAD can even cause them to overeat or undereat, so there’s very much a spectrum in terms of how the symptoms present themselves.”
 

LISTEN: Scroll down to hear Skewen Branch Librarian, Rachel Dineen-Mabe talking to BBC Radio Wales about the scheme
 

What’s available?

Light therapy lamps which replicate daylight are among resources now available to borrow from Neath Port Talbot libraries.

The lamps will be based at Cwmavon Library, but residents can request to have them delivered to their closest library for convenience. Residents can also request to take them home.

An online course is also available, designed to support positive habits and improve mental wellbeing to help people cope with the effects of reduced daylight during these winter months.

What is SAD and how does the Wintering Well project help?

SAD is estimated to affect more than one million people across the UK and can have a significant impact on mood, energy levels and day-to-day wellbeing when there is limited natural light.

The Wintering Well project builds on successful library-based trials elsewhere in the UK, where borrowers have reported improvements in mood, daily routines and their ability to cope with winter.
 

How do SAD lamps work?

They work by mimicking natural sunlight to make up for the lack of daylight during autumn and winter. They are easy to use; simply plug it in nearby, turn it on, and let the lighting do the rest. Please note, users should not look directly at the lamp. The lack of sunlight during darker months can disrupt our body's internal clock (circadian rhythm) and affect brain regions like the hypothalamus. Bright light signals to our brain that it is daytime, helping reset our sleep-wake cycle.

Councillor Nia Jenkins, Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years at Neath Port Talbot Council, said:

"We’re pleased to be taking part in the Wintering Well Scheme which is helping to educate people and raise awareness of the effects of SAD. Our libraries act as the perfect venues for supporting the health and wellbeing of local communities.

“These Wintering Well Boxes offer practical, accessible support for people who may find the darker winter months challenging and will help residents to cope throughout this time of year."

Residents interested in making use of a Wintering Well Box should contact their local Neath Port Talbot library for further information and availability.

You can find out your nearest library here: https://www.npt.gov.uk/libraries/find-your-library/