Season of the winter blues

23 June 2010

By Ruth Larsen

We’ve just experienced the winter solstice, meaning the days are as short and dark as they are going to get.

The Mental Health Foundation is reminding health professionals now is the time people are most likely to suffer from the “winter blues” or Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Pharmacists have a significant role to play in helping customers, says chief executive of the mental health foundation Judi Clements.

Ms Clements says people have a trusting relationship with their pharmacist and will often seek advice from them.

Pharmacists can help by encouraging customers who present with the flat mood and lack of motivation often associated with the “winter blues”, and the 10% of the population affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder to do certain things to help themselves.

“They can make practical suggestions for what they can do rather than dwell on the negative,” she says.

This includes encouraging people with a low mood to take some exercise, particularly if it is outside in the daylight.

“In New Zealand the winter sun is bright and warming.”

Ms Clements says pharmacists also have an important role in giving information about potential adverse reactions and contraindications of certain medicines.

This includes checking if customers are taking herbal supplements when they are filling their prescriptions for other medicines, she says.

Margaret Neill, pharmacist at the Howick Health Dispensary, a busy medical centre pharmacy says her customers tend to be highly motivated and compliant in following the doctor’s advice.

“If they say go for a walk they do it,” Ms Neil says.

Ms Neill says she feels confident in dealing with customers who present with a low mood, but wouldn’t hesitate to refer the customer onto a doctor if their condition seemed serious enough.

But more education for pharmacists would always help, she says.

Ms Clements says while it is important to take mental illness seriously, people should be careful not to over-medicalise human emotions.

“I don’t want people to think that we’ve all got to be bright and cheerful unrelentingly. Sad things happen and bad things happen.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has just launched the interactive website www.depression.org.nz for sufferers of mild to moderate depression, fronted by former All Black John Kirwan. Mr Kirwan, a well-known sufferer of depression himself, takes registered visitors through a series of steps to recovery.

 

 

 

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