Let’s be honest: Melbourne winters can get us all down. Grey skies, cold mornings, early sunsets!! But for some, the change is more significant, a form of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
What is SAD?
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that typically appears in late autumn or winter, when daylight hours are shorter. It’s thought to be linked to reduced sunlight, which can affect your body’s levels of serotonin, melatonin, and your overall circadian rhythm.
Common symptoms of SAD include:
- Low mood most of the day, almost every day
- Loss of interest or pleasure in things you usually enjoy
- Fatigue and low energy, even with enough sleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Increased appetite (especially for carbohydrates )
- Sleeping more than usual
- Withdrawing from friends or social activities
If this sounds familiar, it’s worth having a chat with your GP. SAD is a recognised and treatable condition, and early support can make a big difference.
Mental Health Support: How Your GP Can Help
Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, burnout, SAD, or just not feeling like yourself, we can help with:
- A safe space to talk. All our GPs are experienced in helping patients manage mental health concerns with compassion, confidentiality, and zero judgment.
- Mental Health Care Plans (MHCPs) if needed, which gives you access to subsidised sessions with a psychologist or mental health social worker through Medicare. You may be eligible for up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions per year.
- We have built strong referral networks for team-based care.
- Medication options. For some patients, medication can play a helpful role in managing anxiety, depression, or SAD, especially if symptoms are severe or persistent. We’ll talk through the options with you to find what’s right.
- Ongoing check-ins. Mental health is not a one-off conversation. We offer regular check-ins to adjust your care and support your recovery over time.
Small Steps That Can Help in Winter
Alongside professional support, small changes to your daily routine can help improve mood and energy levels:
- Get outside when you can, even a short walk during daylight hours can help.
- Open blinds and sit near natural light during the day.
- Keep a regular sleep routine, even if you’re tempted to hibernate.
- Exercise regularly, even indoors, movement is a powerful mood booster.
- Stay connected, a phone call or catch-up with a friend can make a difference.
- Limit alcohol, which can worsen mood and affect sleep quality.
Small Steps That Can Help in Winter
Alongside professional support, small changes to your daily routine can help improve mood and energy levels:
- Get outside when you can, even a short walk during daylight hours can help.
- Open blinds and sit near natural light during the day.
- Keep a regular sleep routine, even if you’re tempted to hibernate.
- Exercise regularly, even indoors, movement is a powerful mood booster.
- Stay connected, a phone call or catch-up with a friend can make a difference.
- Limit alcohol, which can worsen mood and affect sleep quality.
Urgent Help
If you’re finding life overwhelming and you need urgent support, these services are available 24/7:
- Lifeline – 13 11 14 – https://www.lifeline.org.au
- Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 – https://www.beyondblue.org.au
- Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
- Emergency services – Call 000 if you or someone else is in danger
We’re Here When You’re Ready
Whether you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, burned out, or simply “off,” your GP is a great first step for mental health support. At Sage Medical West Footscray, we want you to know that you don’t need to go through it alone. Book an appointment by calling us on 03 8606 3206 or Book Online.
