Supporting your employees’ mental health through the changing seasons

1 September 2026

The last bank holiday of the year until the Christmas break has now passed. With the days getting shorter and the weather getting colder, moods may plummet with the autumn leaves.

It may be the case very soon that employees only see the sunlight through an office window, so employers may need to take steps to ensure that their employees’ mental health is prioritised during the colder months.

How does the change in weather affect mental health?

Autumn and winter can be magical. With expanses of orange leaves and the sticky British heat gone, some people thrive with a pumpkin-spiced latte in hand.

However, the reduced sunlight hours and colder temperatures can lead to some mental health struggles.

The shorter days can affect the body’s circadian rhythm. Early sunsets and late sunrises can confuse your body’s internal clock, leading to daytime fatigue.

Additionally, the low amounts of sunlight can lower serotonin levels. Serotonin is the chemical in the brain that contributes to high mood.

There should also be considerations made for loneliness. With an increase in time indoors and a change in regular routines, loneliness can contribute to an array of mental health issues.

All of these contribute to something that is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is when are person will experience mood shifts and depressive symptoms due to the weather changes.

Some of the symptoms of SAD include:

• Low mood.
• A lack of energy.
• Difficulty in concentrating.

If an employee is experiencing mental health issues, employers need to take it seriously and take the same care as they would with a physical illness.

What should employers do to support employees with mental health issues?

If an employee is struggling with mental health issues, employers should always take these issues seriously and make reasonable adjustments within the workplace.

This is especially important if the mental health issue qualifies as a disability.

Employers should make reasonable adjustments to support mental health issues. This could be a change in working hours, giving an employee frequent small breaks, allowing flexible hours or offering paid time off for medical appointments.

It may also be beneficial to offer an employee the opportunity to change their working environment.

Employees could be offered the opportunity to work from home, move their desk nearer to a window or integrate their workspace closer to somebody else to combat loneliness.

There could also be considerations surrounding outdoor time. Employers should encourage their employees to utilise their break times to get outside during peak sunlight hours.

Managers should be trained to spot and address the signs of poor mental health in employees. If mental health problems are managed effectively early on and reasonable adjustments are made, then employees are more likely to stay in work.

How can we help?

We understand that travelling to work in the dark can have an impact on employees’ mental health. That is why we are here to offer expert guidance for employers so that they can look after their employees’ mental health effectively.

Implementing mental health policies that support employees is imperative when managing issues within the workplace.

Our team can help you review your policies and procedures to ensure that your team are best equipped to handle any mental health issues that may appear as we enter the autumn season.

For support with managing seasonal mental health problems in the workplace, get in touch with our team.