It’s natural to feel a bit sluggish and sleepy during the winter. After all, the days are shorter, and cooler temperatures tend to keep us cooped up inside. But for many people, this “hibernation mode” may be a seasonal form of depression called seasonal affective disorder. So how do you know if what you’re experiencing is just a case of the “winter blues” or a mental health issue? Here are some signs to look out for.

The Winter Blues

Dreary winter days can leave us feeling tired and not very motivated. This is likely due to shorter daylight hours, which can interfere with our circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycles) as well as levels of serotonin and melatonin, which regulate moods and induce sleep, respectively. It’s not surprising, then, that the winter blues are characterized by feelings of sadness and lethargy, causing us to sleep more. Many of those who feel down during the winter find that they’re feeling less social than they do during spring and summer. The winter blues, however, don’t interfere with a person’s ability to function.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Suffering from seasonal affective disorder is more serious than the winter blues. The two most common indicators of SAD are overeating and oversleeping. People who have seasonal depression may experience negative emotions for most of the day, feeling hopeless and sometimes even suicidal. They tend to withdraw from family and friends and lose interest in activities they normally enjoy. If you constantly feel lethargic and have difficulty concentrating at school or work during the colder months of the year and seasonal disorder may be the culprit. Symptoms are persistent and can be severe enough to interfere with your work, relationships, and daily activities.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatment

SAD treatment may include 30 – 60 minutes a day of light therapy, usually in the morning. You can purchase a lightbox that mimics natural light and can help reset your internal clock. Many people report that their symptoms improve with lifestyle changes such as spending more time outside, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet that includes sources of Vitamin D.

If lifestyle adjustments don’t help and your symptoms persist or intensify, it may be time to seek professional help. South Sound Behavioral Hospital offers comprehensive mental health treatment services that may include in-patient or partial hospitalization and outpatient therapy. Contact us to schedule an evaluation.

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Lacey, Washington, July 16, 2019 – Washington has a new state-of-the-art hospital to treat specialized mental health issues. Located in the Woodland Square District of Lacey, Washington, a suburb of Olympia, South Sound Behavioral Hospital is open and offering a full continuum of psychiatric care with 108 new beds.

“We continue to build on US HealthVest’s history of developing new hospitals to meet the urgent need for behavioral healthcare,” said Richard Kresch, M.D., President and CEO of US HealthVest. “At South Sound Behavioral Hospital, we are delivering specialized psychiatric care in one of the most innovative behavioral hospitals in the country today.”

South Sound Behavioral Hospital provides behavioral health services to all patients, regardless of ability to pay. Comprehensive services include free 24/7 assessments, inpatient care and outpatient services. Units are designed to treat the growing needs of unique populations including youth, military and veterans, geriatric, women’s and dual diagnosis.

South Sound Behavioral Hospital is US HealthVest’s second hospital in Washington, contributing to an integrated delivery system. With Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital in Marysville and South Sound Behavioral Hospital in Lacey, US HealthVest has a broad geographic reach with comprehensive service offerings and solid relationships with payors and providers in Western Washington.

US HealthVest transformed a formerly vacant office building into a modern behavioral hospital offering a safe and therapeutic environment. The 78,000 square foot facility has four floors with warm and open spaces. Shared amenities include activity rooms, therapy spaces and a dining area, along with indoor and outdoor recreational spaces. South Sound Behavioral Hospital adds to the revitalization of the vibrant Woodland Square District in Lacey with the addition of over 200 high quality jobs. For more information, please visit https://www.southsoundbehavioralhospital.com.

About US HealthVest

US HealthVest is an innovative provider of behavioral healthcare services focused in the Chicago, Atlanta and Seattle markets. US HealthVest operates Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital, South Sound Behavioral Hospital, Chicago Behavioral Hospital, Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital, Lake Behavioral Hospital, Ridgeview Institute-Smyrna, Ridgeview Institute – Monroe and is developing additional psychiatric hospitals across the country. Accredited by The Joint Commission, US HealthVest’s hospitals provide specialized psychiatric care to patients with a full range of inpatient and outpatient services for children, adolescents, adults and senior adults. US HealthVest was founded in 2013 by Dr. Richard Kresch, formerly Founder & CEO of Ascend Health Corporation and Heartland Health Developments. For more information, please visit https://www.ushealthvest.com.

Contact:

Richard Kresch, M.D.

President and CEO

US HealthVest

(212) 243-5565

Expansion at US HealthVest psychiatric hospitals creates huge opportunity and demand for experienced Psychiatrists. Company partners with Katon Direct to engage top talent.

US HealthVest, a leading behavioral healthcare company, has experienced significant growth as the company continues to redefine the psychiatric hospital space. As a result of this expansion, the need to add qualified psychiatrists to service the growing patient population of adolescents, adults and seniors has increased.

To accelerate the recruitment process of qualified psychiatrists at its fastest growing locations – Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital (Marysville, WA), Ridgeview Institute (Smyrna, GA and Monroe, GA), Chicago Behavioral Hospital (Des Plaines, IL) – US HealthVest has partnered with Katon Direct, the leader in healthcare recruitment marketing solutions.

“Providing exceptional, individualized patient care is at the core of US HealthVest’s mission” said Dr. Richard Kresch, President and Chief Executive Officer. “To deliver on that principle, we invest in topflight healthcare talent who share our passion for innovative behavioral healthcare, individualized treatment and commitment to serving all patients, regardless of ability to pay. We’re excited to partner with Katon Direct to achieve our hiring goals, and we look forward to connecting with exceptional psychiatrists.”

Richard Kaskel, CEO of Katon Direct, added “We are very excited to be partnering with US HealthVest and help the organization engage experienced psychiatrists thru personalized recruitment marketing.   We are very impressed with their business model, exceptional career offering, and commitment to invest in the talent that provides care to their patients.”

About US HealthVest

US HealthVest is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services. US HealthVest operates Chicago Behavioral Hospital, Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital, Ridgeview Institute and Ridgeview Institute – Monroe and is developing additional psychiatric hospitals across the country. Accredited by The Joint Commission, US HealthVest’s hospitals provide specialized psychiatric care to patients with a full range of inpatient and outpatient services for adolescents, adults and senior adults. US HealthVest was founded in 2013 by Dr. Richard Kresch, formerly Founder & CEO of Ascend Health Corporation and Heartland Health Developments. For more information, please visit www.ushealthvest.com.

For more information on career opportunities at US HealthVest:

Martina Sze
Executive Vice President
US HealthVest

212-243-5565
[email protected]

 

About Katon Direct

With an industry-leading database of over 8 million healthcare professionals and highly targeted recruitment marketing campaigns, Katon Direct helps hundreds of healthcare employers connect with their ideal candidate pool, grow their talent community and elevate their employer brand.

Media Contact:
Jason Golden
Director of Marketing
[email protected]