As summer slowly falls further behind, and the days become shorter and shorter, the fall and winter season can be a daunting prospect for some.

During the colder months, a form of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can affect a person until the spring thaw. Known as the winter blues, SAD affects those who are sensitive to sunlight says Eden Mental Health Centre Program Director Dana Human.

"In the summer we get a ton of sunlight, and it makes you feel good. And that light as we can tell our days are getting shorter and so we got that lack of light therapy."

Human notes that less light known as phototherapy means reduced energy, lower serotonin levels, and alters one's circadian rhythm.

SAD and depression are very similar, with similar symptoms and both being conditions that need to be taken seriously says, Human. However, SAD is different in the fact that it comes and goes with the seasons.

As the weather begins to turn if people notice they are tired, less energetic, sleep more, have increased appetite and weight gain they could be affected by SAD says, Human.

Human explains when the days become darker there are options to combat the effects of SAD one being SAD lamps.

"I've had a lot of colleagues in the past, and I've even tried one myself, where you set it on your desk in the winter, and it will just shine, and it will mimic sunlight."

Human notes other options can be as simple as maintaining activity level over the winter, "a lot of people say oh when winter comes I'm not going to run outside. Really we've got to learn to stop putting those restrictions on ourselves," says Human.

A person can even benefit from going on vacation to somewhere with plenty of sun says, Human.

If someone is dealing with SAD and nothing seems to work, Human suggests speaking to a healthcare provider. "There are lots of assessments and a good conversation to see where you're at and if your struggle will be continuous or not," says Human.