News @ Noon: Help Is Available for Seasonal Affective Disorder

ST. CLOUD - We're getting into the time of the year where we have the fewest hours of daylight. And, that means more people will be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder - or SAD.

CentraCare's Diane Reller says this is a type of depression that's now recognized as a widespread condition.

Low kind of down mood. They have a loss of energy. Their motivation is down. They might not be feeling interested or feeling joy in activities that they used to enjoy during the summer months.

Reller says 80 percent of the people who seek treatment for SAD report an improvement in their mood. Treatments include light therapy, vitamin D supplements, regular exercise, and a healthy diet.

Reller says too many people are just living with it, and not getting help.

Unfortunately, about two-thirds of the people out there are not seeking treatment for their depression. The good news is that 80 percent of the folks who do are reporting that they're having some improvement.

Reller says depression is a debilitating condition that needs to be treated just like any other medical condition. She says it's estimated that 17.5 million Americans have some form of depression.