Permanent Daylight Saving Time Could Harm Sleep and Mental Health, Analysis Says

Canadian health researchers recommend that countries adopting permanent time adopt standard time rather than daylight saving time, citing evidence that permanent daylight saving time would delay winter sunrises by an hour and harm sleep, mood, and mental health by depriving people of crucial morning light. The delayed sunrises could be particularly damaging for the estimated 1-3% of Canadians with seasonal affective disorder and the 15% experiencing milder seasonal mood changes. While permanent standard time has minor drawbacks, researchers argue it requires fewer public health interventions than permanent daylight saving time, which would necessitate broader measures like later school start times and increased workplace lighting.