National Maritime College of Ireland

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

It’s been a very tough year for many. As we get closer to Christmas time the festive lights and plans to see family help create an air of optimism again. But for some, this time of year can be a struggle due to Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Taking care of ourselves and loved ones is vital, especially in these COVID-19 times. It’s important to know how we might help a family member, crew member, colleague or friend, who may suffer from SAD.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year.

Symptoms

• Feeling down most of the day, nearly every day
• Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Having low energy
• Having problems with sleeping – either oversleeping or not getting any
• Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight
• Feeling sluggish or agitated
• Having difficulty concentrating

Causes

Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level of sunlight in autumn and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body’s internal clock and lead to feelings of depression.

Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in SAD. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression.

Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body’s level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.

What can you do to counteract the effects?

Get outside. Take a long walk, eat lunch at a nearby park, or simply sit on a bench and soak up the sun. Even on cold or cloudy days, outdoor light can help — especially if you spend some time outside within two hours of getting up in the morning.

Make your environment sunnier and brighter.

Open blinds, trim tree branches that block sunlight to your home. Sit closer to bright windows while at home or in the office.

Exercise regularly. Exercise and other types of physical activity help relieve stress and anxiety, both of which can increase SAD symptoms.

Being more fit can make you feel better about yourself, too, which can lift your mood.

Speak with your GP if you have any questions about your mental health or to read more please visit the HSE website here.

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• Must have held a Senior Management role on board a vessel.
• Must have renewed dangerous cargo endorsement (DCE) for both oil and chemical since 2010.

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Level 5 Update for Customers – Certified Safety Training

In line with current NPHET advice, in respect of Level 5, Higher Educational Institutes will continue to remain open and are deemed essential.

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Level Three Update for Delegates

As of midnight tonight, October 6th, all counties in the ROI will be placed on Level 3 under the Plan for Living with COVID-19.

NMCI Services & SEFtec NMCI Offshore will remain open for educational training.

The courses we deliver are mandated for keyworkers within various maritime sectors.

These are our STCW courses, which are mandated by the International Maritime Organisation and accredited by the Marine Surveyors Office and our OPITO courses, mandated by the oil and gas operators for safe transit to and from offshore installations.

We will continue to offer these essential courses with our current COVID-19 safeguards in place in order to assist the supply chain to continue to function.

We will continue to advise our customers if there are any changes to certification because of enforced restrictions. Please check our social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and this Blog) for all updates. Use @NMCIServices to find us on all social media channels or click the links provided.

We shall work with all our customers to ensure they are both certified and safe whilst at the NMCI.

Our NMCI Services Admin team are working extremely hard to answer all questions you may have. Please email services@nmci.ie or call +353 (0)21 433 5609 to speak with our team. Course bookings can still be made online. Due to the large volume of emails and calls we are currently receiving, we would encourage customers to book online where possible.

In addition, please watch this video to view the COVID-19 safety measures we have implemented to protect you, your family, fellow students and staff.

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Do you need to attend an OPITO approved BOSIET Course?

Has your FOET recently expired?

We are acutely aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the Offshore Industry, especially with regards to scheduling training.

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