Brighten up and switch on to beating those winter blues - The Worcester Observer

Brighten up and switch on to beating those winter blues

Worcester Editorial 19th Jan, 2021 Updated: 19th Jan, 2021   0

WITH 2020 hailed by many as ‘the worst year ever’, people in the West Midlands feel worse about their mental health than any other region this Blue Monday, a new study has revealed.

According to new research by NICEIC of registered electrical contractors, a 68% of those polled in the West Midlands have confessed that the shorter days and darker nights this winter are negatively impacting their mental health.

Faced with another national lockdown, 59% of crisis-weary West Midlanders revealed they felt gloomy about the prospect of spending more time at home this winter, with one third (33%) saying they felt anxious and fearful, one third (33%) feeling isolated and almost a quarter (21%) feeling burnt out and exhausted.

What’s more, with many homebound Brits working from makeshift offices in kitchens or spare bedrooms since last year, poor lighting in the home is making matters worse.




In response, NICEIC has launched its ‘Watts The Matter?’ campaign. The campaign highlights the positive impact brightening up your home with good lighting can have on the nation’s collective mood – while warning the public of the importance of using a registered electrical contractor for any planned electrical work.

Paul Collins, NICEIC’s Technical Services Manager, comments: “With 2020 being one of the most challenging years in recent history, it’s unsurprising that just weeks into January, the mental wellbeing of a record number of Brits is at an all-time low this Blue Monday, including many in the West Midlands.


“The national lockdown and the fact that huge swathes of the population are still working from home, often in makeshift offices set up in the kitchen or spare bedroom, is clearly intensifying the detrimental impact poor home lighting can have on mood.

“And while more people are recognising that better home lighting can help them get through the gloomy winter, have-a-go DIY enthusiasts must remember there’s a huge difference between fitting a new energy efficient lamp (lightbulb) and attempting to install a more sophisticated solution, which comes with potential pitfalls around electrical safety.

“As we ask the nation ‘Watts The Matter?’ this winter, our message is simple – investing in good lighting can be a real mood booster. But always use a professional, such as those electrical contractors registered with NICEIC, for any electrical work not only to keep your home and family safe but also to receive the best technical advice and expertise.”

For more on the ‘Watts The Matter?’ campaign please visit: www.niceic.com

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