Welsh Libraries Loan SAD Lamps to Help Residents Cope with Darker Months

A new initiative has been launched across Wales enabling people to borrow seasonal affective disorder lamps from local libraries. Eleven Welsh council areas are participating in the scheme, which was developed by researchers from the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh with funding from the Economic and Social Research Council following two years of trials in Scotland. Seasonal affective disorder happens when shorter days negatively affect mood, energy levels, and overall wellbeing. Individuals affected by the condition, such as branch librarian Rachel Dineem-Mabe and student Lorna Beatrice Lombardini, have described the challenges of low mood and physical exhaustion during the winter months, noting that using bright lights and SAD lamps helps boost their mood.