LEXINGTON, Ky. — An uptick in depression is typical during this time of year, especially around the holidays. According to the American’s Health Rankings, since 2011, Kentucky has always been above the United States average when it comes to mental distress, based on poor mental health days.

One psychologist in Lexington, Dr. Katherine L. Stone, says Kentuckians should expect to see numbers escalate even more this year because of the isolation caused by COVID-19.

Dr. Katherine Stone. Photo courtesy of Katherine Stone.

Stone said she's seeing the "winter blues."

“There's also winter blues which is what I'm seeing a lot in my clinical practice which is individuals that just are blue, they're sad about not seeing family during the holidays they're tired of being in one setting, they miss the social interaction,” Stone said.

Stone works with children, adolescents, and college students in her practice. She says with virtual learning and the isolation it brings, she has seen many of her clients going through early signs of depression due to COVID-19.

“I see a lot of kids and college age students and never before in my practice have I seen such an occurrence of lack of motivation and procrastination. It is rampant right now,” Stone said.

Although there are some cases of depression associated with COVID-19, another type of depression can be seasonal depression. Stone says this comes with milder signs such as lack of motivation and feeling fatigued. This type of depression is common during the winter months when the weather is cold and gloomy. 

Stone says because so many Kentuckians are working from home, they are losing the amount of exercise they would typically get during the day. For example, children walking from their houses to the bus stop or from the classroom to the cafeteria. Stone says increasing exercise can be one way to help fight off depression. 

Along with getting more exercise, Stone recommends finding a new activity to do around the house or even setting up lightboxes to simulate sunlight during the winter months. 

“Find something that you enjoy, so it might be adopting a new dog. It might be picking up water coloring, which happens to be what I'm doing. Maybe this winter you buy some herbs and grow and watch the growth, but finding something that's kind of interesting and exciting can be another thing that can help,” Stone said.