THE LOOP — As the Chicago winter quickly approaches, the city prepares for all that comes with it: bitter cold weather, shorter days, and a general lack of contact with direct sunlight. For many Chicagoans, this time of year means turning to the use of some kind of ultraviolet light therapy lamp to battle Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This year, however, all residents will be taken care of in that regard, as the city is replacing the Sun with a giant light therapy lamp in the sky.
Major mental health win!
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The decision comes from the Chicago Department of Public Health in an attempt to combat the effects of SAD on Chicago residents.
“Nobody is immune to SAD,” remarked Dion Sanchel, 42, a member of the Chicago Board of Health. “I know when I start feeling the blues, I just pull out my personal light therapy lamp and stare directly into it all day. From dawn until dusk, I’m unblinkingly staring into that light every single day for months, and it makes me happier. That’s what we want for all Chicagoans.”
Starting on the first day of winter, a city-sanctioned helicopter will rise above the city daily while toting a Soldier Field-sized UV light therapy lamp. The helicopter will position itself so the lamp is directly blocking the city from the Sun throughout the entire day. In doing so, the lamp will become the city’s primary daytime light source for all of the upcoming winter.
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“Honestly, we’d like to see this become a year-round thing,” chuckled Sanchel. “The Sun has a lot of drawbacks: sunburns, far away, too big—that sort of thing. With a light therapy lamp, we don’t have to worry about any of that. Instead, we can just come together as a city and stare at the big lamp in the sky from dawn until dusk every single day. Science says that we would be a much happier city if that was the case.”
Sounds like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel!
If you’re in the Windy City this winter, be sure to take a look at the sky and bask in the glow of the city’s newest light source. It’s sure to make you feel less SAD!
