Aidan Duke
Writer
The fall has finally arrived, bringing an abrupt change of
weather to the American youth’s mental health.
This transition in psyche as summer turns to fall is referred
to by scientists as (SAD) or Seasonal Affective Disorder.
According to Harvard Health, this disorder causes people
to experience sadness, depression and fatigue in the fall,only
subsiding in April.

The disarray was first discovered in the year 1984 by Nor-
man Rosenthal and his colleagues at the National Institute of

Mental Health.
Their discovery was revolutionary because it revealed that
the weather was linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain
prompted by shorter daylight hours and a lack of sunlight.

According to Boston University, around 10 million Ameri-
cans are affected by the seasonal disorder every year.

The uncontrollable weather has affected many people’s
moods including several students at Marlow High School.
For the sake of their privacy, the students’ names and any
other form of identification will not be mentioned.
“When I started sixth grade, I was getting bullied constantly,
and many of my loved ones had passed away. I feel that the
seasons changing had added onto my depression and made me
feel like there was no escape,” expressed one MHS student.

“What helped me to overcome depression was attending thera-
py and being supported by my remaining loved ones.”

The ailments caused by the sudden metamorphosis of cli-
mate has led many to experience symptoms of irritability,

difficulty concentrating, sleeping more, weight gain and hav-
ing difficulty getting along with people according to Harvard

Health.
These problems have caused an interruption and potentially
disabled the lives of those affected by it.
Unfortunately, SAD has caused many students’ and adults’
mental health to become life threatening.

According to The New York Times, nearly 50,000 ameri-
cans committed suicide in 2022 rising 2.6 percent during the

fall months.

Many people have had to deal with depression and help oth-
ers overcome the various obstacles it causes including another

anonymous MHS student.

“I have helped many of my close friends and others over-
come depression by listening and supporting them no matter

what,” stated one MHS student. “I focused on showing them
how much I cared for their well being and then uplift them as
they get help from therapists.”
SAD is a somewhat unknown phenomenon, which causes

devastating circumstances for many, but with new advance-
ments there are now ways to prevent and cure this disorder.

According to Dr. Pruthi of the Mayo Clinic the two main
treatments are light therapy which is a box that mimics outdoor
light and antidepressant medication therapy.
Light therapy causes a chemical change in the brain that lifts
the subject’s mood while antidepressants are psychiatric drugs
that treat depression.
While these treatments can have some potential side effects,
they ultimately have aided many affected by SAD.
As the Weather begins to transition from summer to fall,

Marlow High School students will continue to support and en-
courage each other.

If you or someone you know is struggling with SAD, or
any other disorder, please contact Crisis Helpline by texting
“HOME” to 741741.