Seasons to be cheerful

HOW TO AVOID GETTING THE BLUES WHEN THE COLD WEATHER KICKS IN

- BY ELLA WALKER

AS the leaves turn, pumpkins pop up everywhere and the air temperature increasingly leaves the tip of your nose numb, moods can shift as much as the season.

And while some adore whacking the heating on and cosying up when it gets dark at 3pm, for others, this time of year is one to dread.

Experts say around 3% of adults have "significant winter depression", known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and more generally, there are pressures at this time of year that mean "people can feel less happy," says GP Rachel Ward.

The basics matter

Unfortunately, we can't fast-forward to spring, but little changes can help bolster wellbeing and mental health.

"There's so much talk about mental health, and diagnoses are really important, but what is under-talked about is the importance of the simple things," says Ward.

"If somebody is getting outside, sleeping well, eating well, doing some exercise, moderating their alcohol and getting social interaction with other people, those things all have such a key role in keeping your mental health in a good place.

"Often when we speak to people, some of those things are not being looked after. And you cannot underestimate how important they are."

Don't hide indoors