In Bellingham, it rains almost 169 days out of the year. With the long, dark winters and frequent rain, the impact of the weather on mental health is significant.
For students who come from sunnier places, the gray skies can be overwhelming, leading to feelings of sadness, isolation and fatigue.
Paige Montgomery, 22, is a Western Washington University student graduating with her psychology degree in the spring. She noticed these changes when she first arrived at Western.
“I come from Colorado, we get 365 days of sunshine, and then coming here was a major, major shift,” Montgomery said.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects around 10 million Americans, with symptoms often worsening as the days grow shorter and darker. While western Washington is unique in its gloomy weather, it isn’t the only area where SAD creeps in on students.
Griffin Rinauro, 23, graduated from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Rinauro shared his experience with the gloom on campus.
“I think, on average, Pullman has 30 more sunny days than that of Bellingham. I remember reading that in my high school yearbook,” Rinauro said.
Talking about his experience with SAD, Rinauro said, “I remember there was one specific day where I opened the curtains, and it was sunny, and I actually felt happy for the first time in like three or four months. I was like, ‘Oh maybe I do have seasonal depression.’”
Students dealing with SAD may experience a range of symptoms, including low energy, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite and a loss of interest in activities.
Dr. Kevin Delucio, an associate professor in the psychology department, provided his two cents for students struggling with mental health challenges.
“It’s recognizing — how are the environments that you’re in creating a stressful experience for you?” said Delucio.
In a study examining the pressures faced by students in the College of Education (CoE), researchers have found that both academic and environmental stress are significantly affecting students' well-being and academic performance.
The study, conducted by Dawit Yikealo, Bereket Yemane and Ikali Karvinen, surveyed students from CoE to assess the levels and sources of their stress.
According to the article, “the environment pressurizes a person with forceful and challenging demands to adjust. The environmental stressors include weather, noise, crowding, pollution, traffic, unsafe and substandard housing and crime.”
To support students, Western offers several mental health resources. The Counseling Center provides individual therapy and group support, helping students manage symptoms of depression. Additionally, the Wellness Center on campus offers seasonal light therapy stations, which can help students combat the lack of sunlight.
“I have a sun lamp, and whenever it is sunny, I try and get outside,” Montgomery said.
As mental health is becoming more of an open conversation, seasonal depression can be tough to manage and students are learning to seek help and use resources to cope with the challenges of the Bellingham weather.
“NAMI [is] the National Alliance for Mental Illness… There’s a Whatcom chapter, so connect with them to see what kind of resources they might plug you into,” Delucio said.
Kira Branch is a student at the University of Washington. Branch offered their experience being only a few hours away in Seattle.
“I [also] like playing games, and my setup is right next to the window, so if it is raining, I like to open up the blinds and watch the rain while I play something I enjoy,” Branch said. “So I can associate rain with being cozy, and I like being cozy, so that makes me feel good.”
It’s important to reach out to resources that can help when you’re struggling with your mental health.
“We shouldn’t feel awkward asking for help. It’s human nature to ask for help,” said Branch.
For students seeking help and guidance with their mental health, additional resources can be found here:
“Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.” SAMHSA.
NAMI,
“Two Chairs - Therapy Tailored to You.”
Kaitlyn Ward (she/her) is a senior at WWU. She is a Newswriting & Editorial journalism major getting her minor in Psychology. You can most likely find her making coffee or going on hikes! You can reach her at wardk25@wwu.edu.
