Many do not notice it, but November can have a way of bringing in a heavier energy. The days shrink, the sun slips behind clouds, and suddenly, it’s harder to get out of bed, focus in class or feel excited about hanging out with friends.
For many students at PVHS, November is not just the start of colder weather, it is often the start of something tougher: seasonal depression.
Also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), seasonal depression is like a shadow that creeps in with the fading light.
It affects millions every year, especially teens, who are already juggling school, friendships and the chaos of adolescence.
While it is sometimes dismissed as just the “winter blues,” the truth is, SAD can seriously impact how students think, feel and perform.
It mainly has to do with the fact that the sun shows up less and less during the winter, with Allison Hardesty, one of the Sage therapists at PVHS saying that since “it’s darker for longer and our bodies are not getting as much sunlight… [it] can impact our sleep/wake cycle, our moods [and] our irritability, affecting our emotions.”
Francesca Kagy-Lauro, another PVHS Sage therapist, said that though there are many signs like falling asleep in class, one of the biggest signs of SAD is irritability, which can take many forms, like “snapping at people, not wanting to hang out with people as often, not checking in with your friends, missing a lot of assignments when that isn’t like you.”
Teachers at PVHS have noticed these changes too and they are trying to help their students make it through these tough times.
Biology and Environmental Science teacher Marie Kuhn said that “[she] thinks [they] can just model for students how an adult goes through a difficult day and still be able to look forward to the next day,” since everyone has been through their own struggles in their teenage years.
It’s not just her, but History teacher Louis Harley also said that he works to make his classroom a place of relief while bringing a light hearted mood to the class.
“When kids are having a hard time, it’s usually the same stuff. It’s a class they’re not doing well at, or a class they’re stressed out in. Or it’s the idea that they’re not going to get into an Ivy League college and I just try to explain that it doesn’t matter that much. That’s why I have [that] ridiculous Idaho State banner,” Harley said.
The SAGE team encourages students to care for their basics: sleep, hydration, food and movement.
“Even if there is no sun, and you’re like, ‘it’s not working.’ It’s still working,” Kagy-Lauro said. “The sun is still there. It’s not gone from the universe.”
Not only that, but if any students ever need extra support, there are QR codes around the school to schedule meetings with the SAGE therapists.
While November brings colder weather and darker days, it also reminds us to slow down and take care of ourselves. Seasonal depression is real, but so is the support available here at PVHS.
Between teachers who care, counselors who listen and friends who check in, no one has to endure anything alone.