Let's Talk About...Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Each month, we’re taking a deeper dive into a topic related to trauma-informed or gender-responsive care.
This month, we’re addressing seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that's exacerbated by seasonal and environmental conditions experienced by about 5% of American adults. In most cases, SAD symptoms appear during late fall or early winter and dissipate by spring's sunny days; however, some people have symptoms in the spring and summer, with resolution in the fall and winter.
The specific cause of SAD remains unknown, but some factors that come into play include reduced sunlight that can disrupt your circadian rhythm and affect the levels of serotonin and melatonin in your brain and body. For this reason, SAD is most prevalent among people who live further from the equator.
Symptoms of SAD typically mirror other depression symptoms—listlessness, apathy, hopelessness, fatigue—but may also include oversleeping, overeating, craving carbohydrates, and weight gain. For those experiencing spring and summer SAD, symptoms may include trouble sleeping, poor appetite, weight loss, anxiety, and irritability. People living with bipolar disorder are more likely to develop SAD (Mayo Clinic).
Featured Clinical Resources
Article from the NCCIH Clinical Digest exploring the research surrounding treatment options for SAD.
Simple Ways to Stay Balanced
If you or a client has been diagnosed with SAD or is susceptible to seasonal mood changes, try these strategies year-round to help reduce the impact of SAD.
Insights & Resources
Homelessness Awareness Month
November marks both Homelessness Awareness Month and National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness' 2025 State of Homelessness report, the current affordable housing crisis has created an unprecedented rise in homelessness: up 18% from 2023 to 2024.
Homeless services are in high demand, yet organizations are stretched thin. In 2024, the response system only had enough units to house 16% of families staying in shelters. The same report acknowledges that homelessness is increasing among people with disabilities, children, and older adults, while disparities rooted in geographics and demographics continue to persist: Black, Indigenous, and gender-diverse people are much more likely to be homeless, along with people in rural and suburban areas.
In addition, millions of Americans are on the brink of homelessness due to rising housing costs.
Resources:
Veterans Day
Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, was first celebrated in 1919 to mark the end of World War I and became a federal holiday in 1938. As we pause to honor those who have served, Veterans Day also reminds us of the ongoing mental health challenges many service members and veterans face.
Veterans are at a 58% higher risk of suicide than non-veterans, and more than 140,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001. Studies show that up to 31% of service members develop PTSD after serving; LGBTQIA+ veterans are seven times more likely to die by suicide than their non-LGBTQIA+ peers; one in three women in the military report experiencing sexual trauma or harassment; and one in ten veterans live with a substance use disorder (Stop Soldier Suicide).
Despite these pressing needs, the Department of Veterans Affairs is facing staff shortages, long wait times, and in some cases, shifts towards privatized care models.
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Transgender Day of Remembrance
Each year on November 20, we observe Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), founded in 1999 to honor the memory of transgender and gender-diverse people who have lost their lives to violence. Between January 2013 and the publication of the Human Rights Campaign’s 2024 report, The Epidemic of Violence Against the Transgender and Gender-Expansive Community in the U.S., 372 transgender and gender-expansive people were victims of fatal violence—30 in 2024 alone—with most victims being trans women and people of color. This number is staggering, especially considering that only about 1% of the U.S. population over age 13 identifies as transgender.
The rise in anti-trans rhetoric and restrictive legislation in recent years has contributed to an environment of heightened stigma, fear, and discrimination, which research links to increased risks for violence, mental health challenges, and barriers to care. Transgender and gender-diverse people continue to face disproportionate rates of assault, harassment, and fatal violence, highlighting the ongoing importance of visibility, accurate information, and community awareness on this day of remembrance.
Resources
What's Happening at The Consortium
It’s been a little quieter lately, but that doesn’t mean things have slowed down! Our team has been hard at work behind the scenes planning upcoming trainings, organizing future events, and developing new resources.