Daylight time ends on November 6, and Canadians are preparing for less evening light throughout the winter.
The biennial time change requires people in November to set their clocks back one hour at 1 a.m., regaining lost sleep in the early hours of daylight in March.
Most communities observe the change in time except northwest BC, Creston, BC, Yukon, most of Saskatchewan, southeastern Labrador, Southampton Island, Nvt. and three northern Ontario towns, Lake Pickle, Atikokan and New Osnaburgh.
While people lose an hour of sleep in the spring leading to mood swings and increased fatigue, experts also believe that an extra hour in November can cause disruption.
A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology in May 2017 on the effect of day time found that time variation increased episodes of unipolar depression.
The researchers analyzed 185,419 Danish hospital contacts for unipolar depression during the summer-to-winter transition. They determined that the change in timing caused an 11 percent increase in unipolar depressive episodes, which disappeared in about 10 weeks.
TIPS FOR BUSINESS WITH CHANGING TIMES
Professionals like Amy Deacon, founder of Toronto Wellness Counseling, are bracing for a tough fall and winter with clients.
The pandemic has left many mental health complications, and returning to the office is exhausting for workers. But Deacon says people should be patient with themselves this year.
“We’ve really noticed that people’s mental health has deteriorated, they’re more prone to anxiety (and) depression,” she told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on Saturday. “We’re entering it a little more battered and bruised.”
While many people are officially diagnosed with depression, seasonal affective disorder, and anxiety, Deacon says anyone can feel the effects of less sunlight.
Some of the symptoms include irritability, fatigue, lethargy, and decreased emotions.
“They just felt a little bit of the truth was being told,” Deacon said.
To combat these feelings, she recommends her clients start preparing before the time shift, by getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night, fueling their bodies with nutritious foods. and exercise every day. Once there’s a pattern of behavior, she says it’s easier for people to stick to routines during tough dark days.
Deacon also recommends people connect with a doctor or seek online chat therapy or counseling before severe depressive symptoms occur.
“I want people to take their mental health seriously,” she said. “It’s a lot easier to recover and restore health when we’re proactive than when we’re responding to a crisis.”
Having small events or plans to look forward to is one technique she recommends to clients, as she finds that some people become “popular” during the winter.
“I really encourage them to plan and…knowing they are going to have real relationships, real life connections, that makes a big difference so they don’t feel alone,” says Deacon. speak.
Another thing people can do is light therapy through a special lamp that simulates sunlight. According to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, sunlight devices can help people with depression.
WILL CANADA STOP THE AM OF THE DAY?
Canada’s provincial and territorial governments have the right to escape the change of time, a movement that has gained support in recent years.
Some provinces and states have contingency laws, allowing daylight saving time.
In March of this year, the US Senate passed a bill that would make daylight hours permanent, if neighboring states follow suit. This could cause a chain reaction in Canada after several provinces passed bills under the pretext of doing the same.
In 2019, BC passed a bill to make daylight hours permanent after 93% of residents voiced support for the proposal. Ontario’s 2022 bill is similar.
However, both provinces will only implement the policy if neighboring states and provinces are on the same page
