Enab Baladi – Yamen Moghrabi

In search of a better and safer life, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have sought refuge in European countries over the past few years. According to European statistics, a large segment of them have integrated into the labor market and new communities, making friends within local societies and overcoming barriers related to cultural and language differences.

Europe is characterized by cold weather and long winters, with heavy rainfall in the summer, not only in Sweden and the Scandinavian countries but also in Germany, France, and other regions. This is a problem with no solution for those who came from warm areas where the sun shines even during the cold winter, which affects mental and later physical health.

“One of the biggest problems I face in my daily life in Sweden is the weather; I haven’t adapted to it even after nine years of arriving in this country,” said Khisal al-Baaroudi to Enab Baladi.

Al-Baaroudi (28 years old), an Arabic language student specializing in Middle Eastern and North African studies at Stockholm University, is among the thousands of Syrians who sought refuge in Europe during the years of war following the outbreak of the revolution in 2011, searching for a better life.

After various difficulties related to language and integration, al-Baaroudi made significant strides in building her new life, but the weather remained the main factor preventing her from adapting to life in the far north of Europe.

“Gray days”

Al-Baaroudi believes the weather forces people to stay at home longer due to the heavy rainfall, snow, and strong winds, which are harsh factors for anyone, especially those who grew up in places where the sun does not set even in winter. “75% of the days here are gray,” said the girl.

Al-Baaroudi feels burdened when the whole day is gray, making it harder than the cold and snow with the sun hidden behind multiple layers of clouds. Despite nine years since her arrival in Sweden, she has not succeeded in getting used to or adapting to the weather, leading to a winter isolation with a feeling of fatigue, lack of desire to perform daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, and studying, along with a lack of social energy, long sleeping hours, and reliance on vitamin D pills.

On the other hand, the sun shines on some summer days in Sweden for up to 22 hours, making it harder to sleep, according to al-Baaroudi. However, she spends her day in nature and mingling with people, trying to absorb as much sun as possible to face the upcoming winter.

In a study published by the US National Library of Medicine in 2018 about the variation in mood and behavior due to exposure to sunlight, it was found that exposure to sunlight has a clear impact on human psychological state. There is a noticeable difference in mood between residents of Sweden and the UK in favor of the latter, and it becomes more balanced in Saudi Arabia and Argentina.

According to the study, there is a negative relationship between lighting and the degree of depression or daily mood disorder, and there is a potential effect of the different photoperiods a person is exposed to. There is also a positive relationship between the duration of exposure to bright light and positive mood and social interaction.

Exposure to bright light above average means more positive behaviors, more acceptance, fewer quarrels, and more positive evaluations of quality of life and better social and emotional performance, according to the study.

Medical effects of vitamin D deficiency

Not far from al-Baaroudi, Rami also lives in Sweden since 2014 and has worked in various occupations. He is in his forties, and despite all his professional achievements and integration and language success, he has failed to deal with Sweden’s weather.

“The weather is the worst thing in Sweden,” said Rami, pointing out its negative impact on Swedes themselves, let alone those coming from warm regions.

He continued that his psychological state becomes worse with the absence of the sun, the long winter night, daily rain, and snow in the absence of a social life.

He added that in the initial phase of his arrival, he suffered from a bad psychological state along with other Syrians without knowing the direct cause. This was accompanied by a deterioration in his physical condition, and getting out of bed felt like breaking stones with bare hands. No matter the duration of sleep, there was extreme lethargy and tiredness.

Rami had to undergo medical tests and discovered a vitamin D deficiency. Upon receiving it through medical pills, his psychological condition and general mood improved, and he succeeded in overcoming depression.

According to mental health consultant Mohamed Abu Hilal, weather and environmental changes have an effect on the human body and mental health issues, most notably related to sunlight and vitamin D acquisition.

He explained to Enab Baladi that a person’s lack of exposure to sunlight weakens concentration or causes depression.

There is a relationship between weather and the human biological clock based on the night-day cycle, and when it is fluctuating with extremely long or short daylight hours, it also affects the person.

Abu Hilal added that the lack of sunlight exposure for those living in Europe increases cases of seasonal depression in the fall and winter as well.

“Even in summer, the sun shines for one day and then it rains for ten days,” said Rami. “The sun sets at ten in the evening, and the Syrians have begun to adapt and learn the solutions, but the lack of social life and the early closure of shops also play a role, especially if one is alone and without family.”

Syrians make double efforts upon their arrival in European countries to learn the language, integrate, and work, “which means starting from scratch and above it a vitamin D deficiency,” Rami added.

Medical solutions to improve mental health

The absence of the sun does not mean there are no alternative solutions, even if temporary. Mental health consultant Mohamed Abu Hilal pointed out several possible solutions.

He added to Enab Baladi that people should adapt to their new residences and try to get as much sunlight as possible. There are also special lights used to treat seasonal depression that can help.

Abu Hilal also recommended a healthy diet and regular exercise as these help fight depression and compensate for other effects. If a person feels unable to adapt, they should seek help from doctors specializing in mental and internal medicine according to the effect they experience, or move to a more suitable place.