The Reality of Seasonal Affective Disorder in the Shenandoah Valley
The peak of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is rapidly approaching. According to a recent Thriveworks study featured by WHSV News earlier this week, it tends to happen during the third week of November, when daylight fades fastest and temperatures drop sharply. The study ranked Harrisonburg, Virginia, as the No. 2 city in the nation for seasonal depression. While it highlights Harrisonburg specifically, the same challenges affect people throughout Rockingham County and beyond in the Shenandoah Valley.
Having lived in both the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County my entire life, I understand the weight of seasonal depression. I used to get prescribed an added medication at this time of year, but through therapy tools like the ones highlighted in the article, I no longer need that add-on to my three psychiatric medications that keep me stable. Still, I’m often reminded that some stories don’t get the chance to continue like mine.
The third week of November, cited in the study, will always hold a heavy place in my heart. On November 16, 2022, my cousin, William Scott Ritchie, lost his life to suicide. He was kind, loyal, and deeply loved. As I read the article, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was one of the many who suffer in silence, not realizing that help exists for this kind of pain.
By sharing my story and my healing journey openly through my mental health diagnosis and my purpose as an advocate to raise awareness, my prayer is that no one facing depression, anxiety, or addiction ever feels they have to battle it alone or in silence. There is help. There is hope. And there are people ready to listen before a crisis ever happens.
Please, if you or someone you know is feeling low this time of year, I encourage you to read both the WHSV feature story and the Thriveworks study linked in this Pillar Post. Together, they offer understanding, encouragement, and tangible steps toward healing. No one in our community or anywhere has to face this alone. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. You can call or text 988 anytime to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support.
I want to sincerely thank Thriveworks and WHSV News for shining light on an issue that impacts so many right here at home. Together, we can keep the conversation going and remind every neighbor that the light can return. And my promise to William, myself, my family, and my community is that I will live the rest of my life walking in partnership with God to share tools, advocate for funding, and work to break these stigmas. Along that journey, my cousin's story, and others like his, will forever be with me.
To follow my journey and advocacy work, I invite you to learn about The Four Pillars Model for Healing I developed through my own lived experience. You can also explore my Pillar Posts, where I share practical tools and insights from living with a chronic mental health condition.
My cousin, William Scott Ritchie, lost his life to suicide on November 16, 2022. He was kind, loyal, and deeply loved. As I read the article, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was one of the many who suffer in silence, not realizing that help exists for this kind of pain.