Health · Mental Health · 2 hrs ago
Free SAD lamps available to borrow from libraries in 11 Welsh councils
People in 11 Welsh council areas can borrow free SAD lamp boxes from local libraries.
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is linked to low mood during the darker months.
The scheme was developed by researchers from the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, with funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.
Each box includes a lamp, a booklet and an online course, and is intended to help people make positive changes in winter.
The scheme expands across the UK after two years of trials in Scotland.
People who took part in the trials reported benefits, according to Public Health Wales.
It advises using the lamps for about 20 minutes in the morning and getting as much daylight as possible during the day.
People can borrow free seasonal affective disorder lamps from libraries in 11 Welsh council areas.
The scheme was developed by researchers from the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, with funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.
The loan boxes include a lamp, a booklet and an online course.
Public Health Wales said people in trials reported benefits and advised using the lamps for about 20 minutes in the morning.
The scheme is part of a wider UK expansion following two years of trials in Scotland.
- Who
- People in 11 Welsh council areas can borrow the lamps. The scheme was developed by researchers from the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
- What
- Free seasonal affective disorder lamp boxes are available to borrow from libraries.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Libraries in Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, Neath Port Talbot, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Powys, Conwy, Newport, Vale of Glamorgan and Caerphilly.
- Why
- The boxes aim to help people who feel low mood in winter or have seasonal affective disorder.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The scheme is expanding across the UK.
Free SAD lamp boxes were available to borrow in 11 Welsh council areas.
- Council areas
- 11
- Welsh areas
- Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, Neath Port Talbot, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Powys, Conwy, Newport, Vale of Glamorgan and Caerphilly
- Loan box contents
- A lamp, a booklet and an online course
- Lamp use advice
- About 20 minutes in the morning
What people are saying
The whole intention of the box is to help people who feel low mood in winter, or feel that they have seasonal affective disorder, make some kind of positive change
People that have been part of the trials have reported benefits and wanted to continue accessing the SAD lamps, evidence has been growing around the benefits that these lamps can bring
I absolutely love the 'say yes' idea, which is even if you get invited to plans, you're thinking it's too cold, it's too dark, I want to stay inside. Just say yes.