Can light exposure cause depression?

Yes, light exposure can indeed influence depression. Andrew Huberman discusses that increased nighttime light exposure is strongly correlated with higher rates of major depression and other mental health issues, such as self-harm and psychosis. Specifically, there is a nearly 25% increase in major depressive symptoms for those with the most nighttime light exposure compared to those with minimal exposure, indicating a significant impact 1 2.

Conversely, adequate daytime light exposure, ideally from sunlight, can help reduce the severity of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety 3. It is important to manage both nighttime and daytime light exposure to support mental health effectively 4.