What are the 'Wintering Well Boxes' in Orkney?

Wintering Well Boxes are kits available for borrowing at Orkney libraries, containing therapeutic lamps and guides to help combat low winter mood and seasonal affective disorder.

How does the Orkney library initiative help with SAD?

The Orkney library initiative provides light therapy boxes and resources to help residents cope with reduced daylight during winter, mitigating the effects of SAD.

Who is leading the research project on SAD?

The Living with Sad research project, which includes the Wintering Well Box initiative, is led by Professor Hester Parr of the University of Glasgow.

Home / Health / Light Boxes Combat Orkney's Dark Winters for Mental Health

Light Boxes Combat Orkney's Dark Winters for Mental Health

26 Dec

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Summary

Orkney libraries lend therapeutic light boxes to combat winter mood.
The Wintering Well boxes include lamps, guidebooks, and online resources.
The initiative is part of a UKRI-funded research project on SAD.

Light Boxes Combat Orkney's Dark Winters for Mental Health

In the Orkney Islands, a creative initiative is providing "boxes of light" to help combat the effects of low winter mood and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Residents can borrow these "Wintering Well Boxes" from the local library, which has seen them become "super popular." These kits are designed to support the more than one million people in Britain who experience SAD.

The Wintering Well Boxes contain a therapeutic lamp to offset the negative impacts of diminished light on mental health, alongside a guidebook offering tips for indoor and outdoor activities to establish a new winter routine. Access to free online resources is also provided, and a unique sky frame helps users focus on available light. The program, part of the UKRI-funded Living with Sad research project, aims to bring these vital resources to more communities, with plans to expand their availability.