A student society is refusing to be S.A.D. this holiday season.

University College Cork’s Healthy Living Society (or Sláinte as they are better known) has launched a campaign to fight Seasonal Affective Disorder, which runs from the 21^st to the 25^th of November.

S.A.D. is more commonly known as the “winter blues” and usually appears in the autumn months, before lifting as spring approaches.

The condition, which is caused by a lack of exposure to sunlight, is believed to afflict more than two million people in Ireland and the UK. The hallmark symptom is feeling unusually depressed, but fatigue, craving unhealthy foods and sleep disturbances are also common.

The population’s natural response to Irish weather conditions is the main cause, says PRO Officer Ruth Hanley, a final-year Occupational Therapy student. “We batten down the hatches and lock ourselves away from the misery of an Irish winter. We want to raise morale among the student population.”

Natural sunlight is needed to increase the amount of serotonin, the feel-good chemical, in the brain. The tendency to avoid the elements however means the sleep-inducing chemical melatonin can rapidly increase, leaving much of the population feeling low.

Solutions to combat the condition include spending more time outside during daylight hours, eating healthily, exercise and reducing stress. Sufferers can also purchase light boxes, which simulate sunlight, to boost their mood.

To aid in cheering-up the student population, several events will be hosted on campus throughout the week. The campaign begins on Monday 21^st of November with a discussion hosted by the Irish Advocacy Agency, which will include speakers with personal experience of depression.

Frowns will be turned upside by the Comedy Society on the 23^rd of November. Highlighting that outdoor exercise can offset S.A.D., the Canoe Club invites braver students to partake in kayaking on the 24^th. Speed dating at UCC’s New Bar also promises to be an emotional experience, organised by the Psychology Society.

The event is being hosted in collaboration with many other campus groups, including the DJ, Choral and Film Societies, and is sponsored by the mental health website Reachout.com.