When we think of the spring and summer months, we often think of the return of longer days, spending more time outside, and being more social. People are often grateful for winter to be over and for the return of long sunny warm days. Yesterday my family was walking together and so many people were enjoying the first warmer days this year over the long weekend. People were obviously relishing the sun and time with loved ones with smiles and laughter. So it seems logical that mental health would get better this time of the year.
However, research reveals a different story. Spring and summer can actually be more challenging for those with lived experience of mental illness than the winter. For example, for someone with bipolar, spring can increase the chance of a manic episode. The length of days impacts circadian rhythms which are closely connected to bipolar. People with bipolar tend to sleep less, increase output of energy and sometimes eat less. This can spike energy, impulsivity, talkativeness and risky actions characteristic of hypomania or mania. It is normal to have some increased energy in the spring, but those with bipolar need to be aware of the tendency to speed up.
The good news is that we can be aware of our energetic patterns and ensure that sleep, exercise, and eating remain stable during the spring and summer months. We can watch for signs of depletion and the tendency to do too much. Three of my episodes happened in the spring and the rest of my episodes occurred in the fall and winter after overworking, overexercising, and over-socializing. Basically, I pushed myself beyond my limits and left myself exhausted. I got caught up in the energy of overdoing but also got stuck not knowing what responsibilities I could let go of. I was aware of the exhaustion and overwhelm but wasn’t able to change things for fear of disappointing others. This is not, of course, the only cause of my mental illness but it is a significant pattern that has preceded all my episodes.
I also came across a mental health challenge relating to summer. Some people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (aka SAD) in the winter often leading to depression because of lack of light. But there is a reverse SAD that occurs in the summer which brings depression (Lewis, 2015). The increased light, changes in melatonin production and rapid changes in temperature can leave someone depressed (Lewis, 2015). This reverse SAD occurs more often in Southern climates (Lewis, 2015).
Tragically, for adults, suicide rates are highest in the spring and early summer (Lau et al., 2026). In Canada, “With 40,405 recorded suicides, results indicated a peak in suicide rates in July (0.95 per 100,000 people), 6.74% higher than the monthly average” (Lau et al., 2026).
Many people think of winter as the time of highest suicide rates. There are many hypothesized reasons for this increase in suicides in the summer: summer depression, social anxieties and pressures, changes in routine, allergies and inflammations causing distress, and reactions to temperatures to name a few.
Looking at those statistics makes me sad. Spring and summer have the potential for so much joy. It is understandable that, for someone who is struggling with their mental health, this joyful season might feel very painful.
I wasn’t aware of this increase in mental health concerns this time of year and so it’s important learning for me. For those with lived experience and their supporters, it is probably good to create a deeper web of support if spring and summer pose risks to your mental health.
In terms of the increased activity in the spring and summer. I advise/suggest people with mental illness to look after their mental health needs. Last summer I was exhausted and knew I needed a quiet, less active and social summer. I invoked images of winter’s rest to help me come back into balance with sleep.
In fact, for me, it feels better to pace myself in summer because I generally feel more uncomfortable in the heat. And so I am known to take time in the afternoons, curtains drawn, fans on and do work or relaxing in the cool of my home. I am learning to remove any shame or guilt from this.
It is important to look after your mental health needs regardless of the season and the expectations that come with it. I watched an Instagram reel about a young woman with depression, finding ways to tidy her room while she was in bed with depression so that she could look after herself while she was feeling low. I thought that was a beautiful act of self-love and acceptance.
Again, I am reminded where to practice self-acceptance and compassion in my life. I am finding my mornings difficult because the amount I sleep is inconsistent. I find myself wanting to cocoon on the couch but I feel I should get going. However, my body is letting me know it is tired with this morning fatigue. If I can awake gently on those tired days, drink tea and enjoy looking at my small potted garden, I feel better. If I can move slowly until I am awake, then the day is easier. If I have in my head, my energy should be like this, then it is harder. By 9 or so, my energy picks up and the day flows just fine.
I have been looking for quiet grounding activities in the evening. This week, I sewed for the first time in a long while. I was just mending a small tear in a shirt. This was therapeutic art in action. I had forgotten how it feels to use one’s hands in this way. The repetition and the tactile nature of sewing brings calm. Often I read or watch a movie in the evening but both bring in more information to my brain which is sometimes too stimulating. Sewing, on the other hand, brings calm.
Lately I have also being doing a simple Qi Gong and Tai Chi routine. I notice in the beginning how a multitude of thoughts flit through my brain until the movements require more concentration. Slowly the thinking brain is stilled and I am just moving, and breathing. I find at night I repeat the movements in my head and feel the felt sense of the Tai Chi movements relaxing me. The practice has lasting relaxation benefits. I am moving slower generally.
What kind of activities might ground you in the spring or summer? Do you notice shifts in mood and activity this time of year? Who in your life can you rely on for support during this time? How can you protect yourself against cultural norms of pushing and overriding your body’s needs and find your own rhythms and self-care? As a supporter, how can you check in with someone’s mental health during these potentially trying months?
Let yourself imagine and implement the kind of relationship you want in these next two seasons🩷🩷🩷🩷 Meegan
Sources:
Lau, E., Plouffe, R., Liu, L. et al. Seasonal variations in suicide mortality in Canada: A nationwide analysis. Can J Public Health (2026). https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-026-01155-4
Lewis, J, PhD. (2015). Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder: SAD in the Summer. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/brain-babble/201501/reverse-seasonal-affective-disorder-sad-in-the-summer
Discover more from The Art of Mental Health
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.