I, like millions of other Britons, struggle with Seasonal Adjustment Disorder (SAD) each year. The potential trigger of this disorder is the annual clock change enforced by the Daylight Saving Time. This practice originated in 1916 during the First World War as an effort to conserve energy, but its relevance in modern society has been widely debated. When the clocks fall back, we are abruptly robbed of precious daylight during our waking hours. This sudden shift into more darkness can adversely impact our mental health, with reported increases in depressive symptoms in people with SAD.

According to a study by the Journal of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, up to 3% of the UK’s population may suffer from SAD, and the symptoms are triggered by a reduction in sunlight exposure which directly correlates with the onset of winter daylight saving time.

It’s time to reconsider the practicality of Daylight Saving Time. We urge the UK Government to evaluate its impact on citizens’ mental health and contemplate its abolition. There are more contemporary approaches to energy conservation that don’t risk citizens' well being. Let’s stand together for the millions of us who suffer each year from this avoidable trigger. Please sign this petition to bring this issue to light.