About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

'Happy Chair' That Helps to Beat Winter Blues Developed

by VR Sreeraman on August 22, 2010 at 8:35 AM
Font : A-A+

 'Happy Chair' That Helps to Beat Winter Blues Developed

A student in Scotland has designed a special "happy chair" to give much-needed light therapy to people suffering the winter blues.

Chuang, Meng Jung decided to take action after noticing how the weather and natural light in Scotland differed from her home country of Taiwan.

Advertisement

After researching the British weather and its effects on the population, she set about designing a product that would help those in need of a health-giving boost of light.

The result is now going on display at Edinburgh College of Art. She hopes the chair will now go into full production.

Chuang was particularly concerned about the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - a form of depression which affects people during the darker winter months.
Advertisement

She discovered that women were twice as likely as men to suffer SAD, with as many as one in five having symptoms of depression during pregnancy.

The results of her research led her to build the Revive chair, with built-in lights to give users the recommended daily dose of light mimicking the effects of natural light.

"In Taiwan we don't have this problem," the Scotsman quoted Chuang as saying.

"So I decided to focus on this condition because up to half a million people are thought to experience that problem."

Chuang found that light therapy, such as using light boxes which emit strong light, was effective in treating SAD. But users had to pay for their own expensive equipment.

The Revive chair gives off the same high-strength light used by other equipment to treat SAD.

"The chair is touch sensitive, the lights come on for the recommended daily dose of 30 minutes, turning back to white light after this time so the user knows they've had their 'dose'," Chuang added.

Chuang took inspiration for the shape of the chair from the position of babies cocooned in the womb.

Source: ANI
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Mental Health News

Breaking the IQ Mold: How Americans' Unique Mental Abilities Transcend IQ Scores?
Americans exhibit high intelligence in one IQ category despite lower scores in others according to a new study.
Hope on the Horizon: European Study Reveals Significant Decrease in Suicides
New study confirms a drop in suicide rates across 15 European countries, while Turkey sees a significant increase.
Nightmares of Discrimination: Sleep Issues Plague LGBTQ+ Youth
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth experience sleep problems due to depression, stress, and family conflict.
Tuberculosis and Mental Health: Need for Extensive Care
Are mental health services important for tuberculosis treatment? Integrating mental health services into the Tuberculosis program can improve treatment completion.
Melatonin Use Curtails the Risk of Self-Harm in Young People
Sleep interventions such as melatonin treatment could be considered to reduce the risk of self-harm in young females with depression and anxiety, instead of medications.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

'Happy Chair' That Helps to Beat Winter Blues Developed Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests