Rural Health Matters: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Mental Health Concerns in Winter

University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold joined us to discuss seasonal affective disorder, winter mental health, and practical strategies for maintaining well-being in rural communities.

LINCOLN, NEB. (RFD NEWS) — As winter continues, many rural Americans face challenges to their mental health, with shorter days, early sunsets, and prolonged cold and gray weather affecting daily life. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and other winter-related mental health concerns are top of mind for health experts as the season progresses.

Dr. Jeffrey Gold, President of the University of Nebraska, joined us on Wednesday’s Rural Health Matters to share insights on coping with winter mental health challenges.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, Dr. Gold discussed why this time of year can weigh heavily on mental well-being, particularly in rural communities where outdoor work and limited daylight add to seasonal strain. He shared practical steps people can take to support their mental health during the darker months and offered guidance for recognizing when professional help may be needed.

Dr. Gold also provided final words of encouragement for viewers, emphasizing strategies to stay proactive and maintain emotional well-being as winter continues.

Related Stories
OOIDA’s Lewie Pugh discusses the EPA’s new Right to Repair guidance and other regulatory developments impacting the trucking and agriculture industries.
Merck’s Gary Tiller discusses new virtual fencing technology and how fence-free livestock management could change the way ranchers manage land and cattle.
At CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, RealAg Radio’s Shaun Haney discusses profitability, consumer demand, and how the integrated U.S.–Canada beef supply chain impacts cattle producers across North America.
Texas cowboy chef and host of RFD Network’s Twisted Skillet, Sean Koehler, shares an elote-style street corn dip just in time for Super Bowl Sunday. This skillet-cooked corn dish combines open-fire cooking and bold regional flavors for a delicious twist on Mexican Street Corn.
San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association’s Trenton Priddy preview this year’s event, which is now streaming on RFD+
Dr. Peter Beetham, interim CEO of Cibus, joined us to discuss the status of EU gene-editing deregulation and its potential implications for agriculture.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Bayer’s Monsanto announces $7.25B class settlement for Roundup™ lawsuits alleging Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), covering claims over 21 years.
Investigations are now ongoing following a massive explosion and fire at the Koch Foods poultry plant in Fairfield, Ohio, which claimed one life and injured at least three other workers at the plant.
Farmer Ed Bell shares how AGRAbility helped him return to his family’s strawberry farm and inspire resilience, legacy, and hope in rural life.
Weskan Grain CEO Will Bramblett discusses the antitrust lawsuit filed by grain farmers and agribusinesses, and its potential implications on rail competition and market access.
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney shares insight into Canada’s trade push in Mexico and what it could signal for agriculture and the USMCA moving forward.
Jim Rothermich with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers joined us to share the latest on farmland real estate markets across the Midwest.
More Shows
Each spring, Rodeo Austin welcomes junior livestock exhibitors and horse show exhibitors to the annual Fair and Rodeo typically held in March. On average more than 9,000 exhibitors compete to enhance their agricultural education. Rodeo Austin is proud to provide these opportunities for youth to succeed.
It’s one of our favorite times of the year – Winter Stock Show Season! And to celebrate the hard work of the future of agriculture, we’re streaming live from some of the biggest livestock shows in Texas.
Through scholarships, grants, endowments, junior livestock auctions, calf scramble program and show premiums, The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo impacts over 22,000 youth in Texas annually.
Dedicated to preserving the western way of life and promoting agricultural education to the Youth of Texas, the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association works year round to continue to bring top notch events to the West Texas Area.
Twisted Skillet brings a straightforward, hands-on approach to kitchen television, rooted in food and fire. Hosted by Texas chef Sean Koehler, the series explores open-fire outdoor cooking techniques, regional ingredients, and the people who raise, prepare, and inspire the food found across America.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
In the harsh Australian Outback, water drillers Danyelle and Anthony Haigh give up their nomadic life of searching for water for cattle ranches, to offer their two sons, Heath and Theo, a more settled life. They swap water drilling for something they’ve never done before – farming.
Analiese Gregory is taking one of the biggest risks of her life: she’s left her successful career as a restaurant chef and bought a century-old cottage at the bottom of the world, in pristine Tasmania, Australia. We share her journey of discovery as she gets under the skin of her new home – and learns to live seasonally off the land, by hunting, fishing, and foraging.
The fourth and final event in Major League Fishing’s Fishing Clash Team Series. Catch the final round each day LIVE only on RFD-TV.
Hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Tanji Patton, “Goodtaste with Tanji” focuses on chefs and popular dishes from restaurants across the culinary spectrum, along with wines, cocktails, and spirits, too. As a travelogue, the show visits restaurants, diners, and eateries across the Lone Star State in fun and adventurous settings, plus the program occasionally travels to neighboring states like Louisiana and New Mexico. In addition, the show educates viewers on wine pairings and value buys available in current wine trends.