Returning to office working could benefit Seasonal Affective Disorder sufferers

As more people return to the office this winter a Cardiff therapist has advice on what to do to help with SAD symptoms

People in south Wales are one of the highest groups in the UK to develop Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), according to the health consultancy YorkTest. South Wales comes third highest in the table, below Scotland and north Wales.

According to the NHS: “Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern,” which around two million people suffer with every year.

Almost five years after lockdown, more people are returning to the office. In 2023, 45% of people went back to office working. And by September 2024, 55% of workers were solely office based, according to the Office of National Statistics.

This might be beneficial for those who suffer with SAD, says one health therapist.

Cardiff-based therapist Amanda Pope, who specialises in mental health issues such as SAD, explains the benefit of commuting to the office is “the social aspect”. The NHS also recommends communicating with peers, something that might be gained for many people by going into the office.

Not only is social interaction a key support, but commuting might also help SAD symptoms. Pope advised that there were other ways to get more light if the commute is not walkable:

“Don’t eat sandwiches at your desk, go outside”, to get as much natural light as possible. “It’s a hard time of year for many. I expect to get, and do get, a lot more clients in the winter months”.

Michael Corr, an architecture lecturer at Cardiff University with 20 years of experience as an architect, said: “One of the most important things for office buildings that has happened over the last couple of years is that windows have become thermally more efficient”, meaning offices can have larger panes of glass without them becoming too warm or cold. This change means more people with SAD might have better access to window space during office hours, helping them cope during the winter months.