Summer’s Impact on Mental Health
By Simone Alston
Most people would report that summertime weather improves their mental health according to ChildFocus. Feeling the warmth of the sunlight may feel good physically, but the sun’s ultraviolet rays contain vitamin D which improves mood. Vitamin D not only strengthens our bones by helping us absorb calcium, but gives us a serotonin boost which minimizes depression.
Going outside and participating in outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking exposes us to vitamin D. Summer’s sunny weather also produces melatonin in our bodies if we go outside. Melatonin is a hormone that our brain produces that encourages us to fall asleep once we are in the dark. Sleeping benefits your mental health. If you don’t get enough of it, you can develop psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, and more.
Summer’s weather is beneficial to mental health because of the sun’s beaming light which provides us with beneficial vitamins and hormones such as Vitamin D and melatonin.
Cover Image: https://woodstoneseniorliving.com/the-summer-sun/
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