meetara-lab/vectorstore-mental_health huggingface dataset:
● Oversleeping (hypersomnia) ● Overeating, particularly with a craving for carbohydrates, 

leading to weight gain

 ● Social withdrawal (feeling like “hibernating”)

For summer-pattern SAD, additional symptoms can include:

 ● Trouble sleeping (insomnia) ● Poor appetite, leading to weight loss ● Restlessness and agitation ● Anxiety ● Violent or aggressive behavior

Winter-pattern SAD should not be confused with “holiday blues”—feelings of sadness or anxiety brought on by stresses at certain times of the year. The depression associated with SAD is related to changes in daylight hours, not the calendar, so stresses associated with the holidays or predictable seasonal changes in work or school schedules, family visits, and so forth are not the same as SAD.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has information on ways to get help and find a health care provider or access treatment at www.nimh.nih.gov/ findhelp.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has information on ways to get help and find a health care provider or access treatment at www.nimh.nih.gov/ findhelp. 

If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In life-threatening situations, call 911.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has an online tool to help you find mental health services in your area at https://findtreatment.gov. How is SAD diagnosed?

What causes SAD?

If you or someone you know is showing symptoms of SAD, talk to a health care provider or a mental health specialist about your concerns. They may have you fill out a questionnaire to determine if your symptoms meet the criteria for SAD.
Researchers are still determining what causes SAD. Most research to date has investigated potential causes of winter-pattern SAD because it is more common and easier to study. As a result, less is known about summer-pattern SAD, and more research is needed.

To be diagnosed with SAD, a person must meet the following criteria:

 ● They have the symptoms of depression or the more specific symptoms of winter- or summer-pattern SAD listed above. ● Their depressive episodes occur during specific seasons 

(winter or summer) for at least 2 consecutive years. However, not all people with SAD experience symptoms every year.

 ● Their depressive episodes during the specific season are more frequent than depressive episodes experienced at other times of the year.

Who develops SAD?

It is estimated that millions of Americans experience SAD, although many may not know they have this common disorder. In most cases, SAD begins in young adulthood.
Who develops SAD?

It is estimated that millions of Americans experience SAD, although many may not know they have this common disorder. In most cases, SAD begins in young adulthood.

SAD occurs much more often in women than in men. Winter-pattern SAD also occurs more often than summer- pattern SAD. Therefore, SAD is more common in people living farther north, where there are shorter daylight hours in the winter. For example, people in Alaska or New England are more likely to develop SAD than people in Texas or Florida.
SAD is more common in people with depression or bipolar disorder, especially bipolar II disorder, which involves repeated depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes (less severe than the typical manic episodes of bipolar I disorder). Additionally, people with SAD tend to have other mental disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, eating disorder, anxiety disorder, or panic disorder. Learn more about these disorders at www.nimh.nih.gov/health.

SAD sometimes runs in families and may be more common in people who have relatives with other mental illnesses, such as depression or schizophrenia.
SAD sometimes runs in families and may be more common in people who have relatives with other mental illnesses, such as depression or schizophrenia.

Studies indicate that people with SAD, especially winter- pattern SAD, have reduced levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which helps regulate mood. Research also suggests that sunlight affects levels of molecules that help maintain normal serotonin levels. Shorter daylight hours may prevent these molecules from functioning properly, contributing to decreased serotonin levels in the winter.

Vitamin D deficiency may exacerbate these problems in people with winter-pattern SAD because vitamin D is believed to promote serotonin activity. In addition to vitamin D consumed in food, the body produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight on the skin. With less daylight in the winter, people with SAD may have lower vitamin D levels, further reducing serotonin activity.
Other studies suggest that both forms of SAD relate to altered levels of melatonin—a hormone important for maintaining the normal sleep−wake cycle. People with winter-pattern SAD produce too much melatonin, which can increase sleepiness and lead to oversleeping. 

In contrast, people with summer-pattern SAD may have reduced melatonin levels, consistent with long, hot days worsening sleep quality and leading to depression symptoms. Longer daylight hours, shorter nights, and high temperatures can also cause sleep disruptions. However, these theories have not been systematically tested. 

Both serotonin and melatonin help maintain the body’s daily rhythm tied to the seasonal night−day cycle. In people with SAD, changes in serotonin and melatonin disrupt normal daily rhythms. As a result, they can no longer adjust to seasonal changes in day length, leading to sleep, mood, and behavior changes.
Negative thoughts and feelings about the winter or summer and its associated limitations and stresses are also common among people with SAD (as well as others). It is unclear, however, whether these thoughts are causes or effects of the mood disorder, but they can be a useful focus of treatment. How is SAD treated?

Treatments are available to help people with SAD. They fall into four main categories that can be used alone or in combination:

 ● Light therapy ● Psychotherapy 

 ● Antidepressant medication ● Vitamin D

Light therapy and vitamin D are treatments for winter-pattern SAD, whereas psychotherapy and antidepressants are used to treat depression in general, including winter- and summer- pattern SAD. There are no treatments specific to summer- pattern SAD.
Talk to a health care provider about the potential benefits and risks of different treatment options and which treatment is best for you. NIMH has tips for talking with a health care provider at www.nimh.nih.gov/talkingtips.

Light therapy

Since the 1980s, light therapy has been a mainstay for treating winter-pattern SAD. It aims to expose people with SAD to a bright light to make up for the diminished natural sunlight in darker months.
For this treatment, the person sits in front of a very bright light box (10,000 lux) every day for about 30−45 minutes, usually first thing in the morning, from fall to spring. The light box, which is about 20 times brighter than ordinary indoor light, filters out the potentially damaging UV light, making this a safe treatment for most. However, people with certain eye diseases or people taking certain medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight may need to use alternative treatments or use light therapy under medical supervision.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy or counseling) can help people with SAD by teaching them new ways of thinking and behaving and changing habits that contribute to depression.
Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy or counseling) can help people with SAD by teaching them new ways of thinking and behaving and changing habits that contribute to depression. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy aimed at helping people learn to challenge and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to improve their depressive and anxious feelings. CBT has been adapted for people with SAD (known as CBT-SAD). CBT-SAD is typically conducted in two weekly group sessions for 6 weeks that focus on replacing negative thoughts related to the season, such as thoughts 

about the darkness of winter or the heat of summer, with more positive thoughts. CBT-SAD also uses a process called behavioral activation, which helps people identify and schedule pleasant, engaging indoor or outdoor activities to offset the loss of interest they typically experience in the winter or summer.
When researchers directly compared CBT-SAD with light therapy, both treatments were equally effective in improving SAD symptoms—although some symptoms got better slightly faster with light therapy than CBT. However, a long-term study that followed SAD patients for two winters found that the positive effects of CBT seemed to last longer. 

Learn more about psychotherapy at www.nimh.nih.gov/ psychotherapies. 

Antidepressant medication

Medications used to treat depression (antidepressants) can be effective for SAD when used alone or in combination with talk therapy. Antidepressants work by changing how the brain produces or uses certain chemicals involved in mood or stress.
Antidepressants take time—usually 4−8 weeks—to work. Problems with sleep, appetite, and concentration often improve before mood lifts. It is important to give a medication a chance to work before deciding whether it is right for you. You may need to try several medications to find the one that works best.

Because SAD, like other types of depression, is associated with disturbances in serotonin activity, antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are sometimes used to treat symptoms. These medications can significantly enhance a person’s mood. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an antidepressant called bupropion in an extended-release form designed to last longer in the body. For many people, bupropion can prevent the recurrence of seasonal depressive episodes when taken daily from the fall through early spring.
All medications can have side effects. Talk to a health care provider before starting or stopping any medication. Learn more about antidepressants at www.nimh.nih.gov/medications. You can also learn about specific medications like bupropion, including the latest approvals, side effects, warnings, and patient information, on the FDA website at www.fda.gov/ drugsatfda. 

Vitamin D

Because many people with winter-pattern SAD have vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D supplements may help improve symptoms. However, studies testing vitamin D as a treatment for SAD have produced mixed results, with some studies indicating that it is as effective as light therapy and other studies finding no effect.

Talk to a health care provider about any dietary supplements and prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking. Vitamin D can interact with some medications. Can SAD be prevented?

What are clinical trials and why are they important?
What are clinical trials and why are they important?

Because the onset of SAD is so predictable, people with a history of the disorder might benefit from starting the treatments mentioned above before the fall (for winter- pattern SAD) or spring (for summer-pattern SAD) to help prevent or reduce depression symptoms. To date, few studies have investigated whether SAD can be prevented. 

Clinical trials are research studies that look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and conditions. These studies help researchers determine if a new treatment is safe and effective in people. The main purpose of a clinical trial is to gain new scientific knowledge so that others may be better helped in the future.

It is helpful to discuss a personalized treatment plan with a health care provider. A provider can help you decide not only the best treatment option but the best timing to help prevent SAD depressive episodes.
People volunteer for clinical trials for many reasons. Some people join clinical trials to help doctors and researchers learn more about a disease and improve health care. Other people, such as those with health conditions, join to try new or advanced treatments that aren’t widely available.

NIMH supports clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Maryland, and across the United States. Talk to a health care provider about clinical trials, their benefits and risks, and whether one is right for you. For more information, visit www.nimh.nih.gov/ clinicaltrials.

For more information

MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine) https://medlineplus.gov https://medlineplus.gov/spanish (en español)

ClinicalTrials.gov  www.clinicaltrials.gov https://salud.nih.gov/investigacion- clinica (en español)
ClinicalTrials.gov  www.clinicaltrials.gov https://salud.nih.gov/investigacion- clinica (en español)

National Institute of Mental Health Office of Science Policy, Planning, and Communications 6001 Executive Boulevard, MSC 9663 Bethesda, MD 20892-9663 Toll-free: 1-866-615-6464 Email: nimhinfo@nih.gov Website: www.nimh.nih.gov 

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NIH Publication No. 23-MH-8138 Revised 2023
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): More Than the Winter Blues

As the days get shorter and there is less daylight, you may start to feel sad. While many people experience the “winter blues,” some people may have a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 

The first step is to determine how much your symptoms interfere with your daily life.

Do you have mild symptoms that have lasted less than 2 weeks?

● Feeling down but still able to take care of yourself and others

● Having some trouble sleeping

● Having less energy than usual but still able to do your job, schoolwork, or housework

These activities can make you feel better:

● Doing something you enjoy

 ● Going outside in the sunlight

● Spending time with family

and friends

● Eating healthy and avoiding foods with lots of sugar

If these activities do not help or your symptoms are getting worse, talk to a health care provider.

Do you have more severe symptoms that have lasted more than 2 weeks?
If these activities do not help or your symptoms are getting worse, talk to a health care provider.

Do you have more severe symptoms that have lasted more than 2 weeks?

● Social withdrawal

● Oversleeping

● Gaining weight

● Craving foods with lots of sugar like cakes, candies, and cookies

Seek professional help:

● Light therapy

● Psychotherapy (talk therapy)

● Medications

● Vitamin D supplements

For help finding treatment, visit nimh.nih.gov/findhelp. 

If you or someone you know is in immediate distress or is thinking about hurting themselves, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

nimh.nih.gov/sad

NIMH Identification No. OM 22-4320
Teen Depression: More than just moodiness

Being a teenager can be tough, but it shouldn’t feel hopeless. If you have been feeling sad most of the time for a few weeks or longer and you’re not able to concentrate or do the things you used to enjoy, talk to a trusted adult about depression.

Do I have depression?

How do I get help for depression?

■ Do you often feel sad, anxious, worthless, or even “empty”?

■ Have you lost interest in

activities you used to enjoy?

■ Do you get easily frustrated,

irritable, or angry?

■ Do you find yourself withdrawing

from friends and family?

■ Are your grades dropping?

■ Have your eating or sleeping

habits changed?

■ Have you experienced any fatigue or memory loss?

■ Have you thought about suicide

or harming yourself?

Depression looks different for everyone. You might have many of the symptoms listed above or just a few. 

■ Talk to a trusted adult (such as
or harming yourself?

Depression looks different for everyone. You might have many of the symptoms listed above or just a few. 

■ Talk to a trusted adult (such as

your parent or guardian, teacher, or school counselor) about how you’ve been feeling.

■ Ask your doctor about options for professional help. Depression can be treated with psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy”), medication, or a combination of medication and talk therapy.

■ Try to spend time with friends or family, even if you don’t feel like you want to.

■ Stay active and exercise, even if it’s just going for a walk. Physical activity releases chemicals, such as endorphins, in your brain that can help you feel better.

■ Try to keep a regular sleep schedule.

■ Eat healthy foods.

You’re not alone, and help is available. You can feel better. To get help, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

nimh.nih.gov/depression NIMH Identifier No. OM 22-4321
Autism Spectrum Disorder What is autism spectrum disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a guide created by the American Psychiatric Association that health care providers use to diagnose mental disorders and developmental disorders, people with ASD often have: ● Difficulty with social communication and interaction with other people ● Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors ● Symptoms that affect their ability to function in school, work, and other areas

of life

Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because people with autism have a range of characteristics, needs, strengths, and challenges.
of life

Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because people with autism have a range of characteristics, needs, strengths, and challenges.

People of all ages, races, ethnicities, sexes, and economic backgrounds can be diagnosed with ASD. Although ASD can be a lifelong disorder, treatments, services, and supports can improve a person’s health, well-being, and daily functioning. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children receive screening for autism. Caregivers should talk to their child’s health care provider about ASD screening or evaluation.

What are the signs and symptoms of ASD?

The list below gives some examples of different types of behaviors that are common among people diagnosed with ASD. Not all people with ASD will have all behaviors, but most will have several of the behaviors listed below.
Social communication and social interaction behaviors may include: ● Making little or inconsistent eye contact ● Appearing not to look at or listen to people who are talking ● Infrequently sharing interest, emotion, or enjoyment of objects or activities

(including infrequently pointing at or showing things to others)

● Not responding or being slow to respond to one’s name or other verbal bids

for attention

● Having difficulties with the back and forth of conversation ● Often talking at length about a subject of interest without considering social

cues or conversational give-and-take

● Displaying facial expressions, movements, and gestures that do not match

what is being said ● Having an unusual tone of voice that may sound flat, lacking emotion or 

tonal variation 

 ● Having trouble understanding another person’s point of view or being unable 

to predict or understand other people’s actions
tonal variation 

 ● Having trouble understanding another person’s point of view or being unable 

to predict or understand other people’s actions

 ● Difficulties adjusting behavior to different social situations ● Difficulties sharing in imaginative play or in making friends

Restrictive/repetitive behaviors may include: ● Repeating certain behaviors or having unusual behaviors, such as repeating 

words or phrases (a behavior called echolalia)

 ● Having a lasting intense interest in specific topics, such as numbers, details, or facts ● Showing overly focused interests, such as with moving objects or with parts 

of objects

 ● Becoming upset by slight changes in a routine and having difficulty with transitions

Autistic people often have sensory differences such as: ● Being more sensitive or less sensitive than other people to sensory input, such 

as light, sound, clothing, or temperature

People with ASD also may experience sleep problems and irritability.
as light, sound, clothing, or temperature

People with ASD also may experience sleep problems and irritability. 

People on the autism spectrum also may have many strengths, including: ● Being able to learn things in detail and remember information for long periods 

of time

 ● Being strong visual and auditory learners ● Excelling in math, science, music, or art

What causes ASD?

 Researchers do not know the primary causes of ASD, but studies suggest that a person’s genes and aspects of their environment may affect development in ways that lead to ASD. Some factors that are associated with an increased likelihood of developing ASD include: ● Having a sibling with ASD ● Having older parents ● Having a very low birth weight

(such as Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome)

 ● Having certain genetic conditions 

Not everyone who has these factors will develop ASD.

How is ASD diagnosed?
(such as Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome)

 ● Having certain genetic conditions 

Not everyone who has these factors will develop ASD.

How is ASD diagnosed?

Health care providers diagnose ASD by evaluating a person’s behavior and development. ASD can usually be reliably diagnosed by the age of 2. It is important to seek an evaluation as soon as possible. The earlier ASD is diagnosed, the sooner treatments and services can begin. Diagnosis in young children

Diagnosis in young children is often a two-stage process.

Stage 1: General developmental screening during well-child checkups
Diagnosis in young children is often a two-stage process.

Stage 1: General developmental screening during well-child checkups

Every child should receive well-child checkups with a pediatrician or an early childhood health care provider. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children receive screening for developmental delays at their 9-, 18-, and 24- or 30-month well-child visits, with specific autism screenings at the 18- and 24-month well-child visits. A child may receive additional screenings if they have an increased likelihood of developing ASD or developmental problems.
Considering caregivers’ experiences and concerns is an important part of the screening process for young children. The health care provider may ask questions about the child’s behaviors and evaluate those answers together with information from ASD screening tools and clinical observations of the child. To learn more about ASD screening, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/autism/diagnosis.

The health care provider may refer the child for additional evaluation if they show developmental differences in behavior or functioning during this screening process.

Stage 2: Additional diagnostic evaluation

It is important to accurately detect and diagnose children with ASD as early as possible, as this will shed light on their unique strengths and challenges. Early detection can also help caregivers determine which services, educational programs, and behavioral therapies are most likely to be helpful for their child.