Residents across North Yorkshire can now borrow therapeutic light kits from their local libraries to help combat Seasonal Affective Disorder during the darker winter months.
Therapeutic light kits will help residents across North Yorkshire combat the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder this winter.
A total of 150 Wintering Well kits are available to borrow from local libraries from today, Monday the 26th of October.
The pioneering initiative is designed to support people during the darker months when reduced daylight can significantly impact mood and lower energy levels.
North Yorkshire is the first area in England to offer access to the kits, following a successful two-year trial in Scotland.
Each kit contains a therapeutic light lamp alongside a guidebook offering tips on simple indoor and outdoor activities to build a new, healthy winter routine. The boxes also include signposting to a free online course.
Library user Jenny Barrie was chosen to test a kit ahead of the official launch at her local branch in Harrogate.
She said:
"The winter is always quite a depressing time of year with the darkness, cold, and often wet weather. I certainly feel worse during the winter months, with much less energy.
The lamp is very simple and easy to use. Although I have only had it for a short time, I think it is making a difference, and I hope to see further improvement the longer I use it.
The other information provided has also given me some good ideas on how to look at the winter months differently. I’m so pleased to have been given this opportunity."
More than a million people in the United Kingdom are estimated to live with Seasonal Affective Disorder during the winter months as a result of reduced access to natural light, according to figures from the Royal College of Psychiatry.
Researchers from the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh developed the kits in consultation with people who experience symptoms of the disorder. The research phase was backed by funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.
The wider roll-out across the UK's four nations will see sixteen library services offer the chance to borrow hundreds of the boxes over the coming months. The expansion was made possible after funding was secured from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants programme.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture and arts, Councillor Simon Myers, whose responsibilities include libraries, welcomed the launch.
He said:
"We are delighted to have been chosen as pioneers for England of the Wintering Well kits, which we are sure will be well-used as the darker months approach.
Such initiatives that boost the health and well-being of our residents are integral, and they complement the resources already available at our libraries.
I would like to thank library staff and volunteers for getting the service up and running. It proves that our library branches are so much more than places to borrow books. They are at the heart of our communities and a hub of support when people need it."
Residents looking for more information on the Wintering Well project can find details on the North Yorkshire Council website.
The local authority is also offering comprehensive guidance on keeping well and warm during the winter months.
This dedicated online resource includes practical advice on preparing for cold weather, travelling safely in wintry conditions, and staying warm and safe at home.
It also provides support for getting vaccinated, choosing the right healthcare, looking after your mental health, and supporting other people in the community.
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