Jennifer Ismirle trudged home from class on another gray Wednesday afternoon.

"It's so dreary," the English senior said.

Now that the days are becoming shorter — daylight-saving time ended Oct. 29 — gloomy weather can induce depression-like symptoms, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, making it difficult for students to focus on academics.

Last school year, about 11 percent of MSU students reported having the disorder, or SAD, according to an Olin Health Center survey.

SAD is "one thing we don't talk about, but it affects a lot of people," said Dennis Martell, Olin Health Education coordinator.

"It's here, and it's pretty prevalent."

Female students and those who live off campus are most likely to have the disorder, Martell said.

About 13 percent of MSU students living off campus reported SAD symptoms, compared to about 8 percent of students living on campus, Martell said.

And, he said, "it affects twice as many women as men."

Emily Brown, a second-year graduate student in the MSU Psychiatry Residency program, said she wasn't surprised a higher number of women reported having SAD.

"Depression, overall, is more prevalent in women," she said, adding it is often more socially acceptable for women to admit to "feeling down."

Almost one-fifth of MSU students admitted that depression, anxiety disorders or SAD have impacted their academic performance, Martell said.

Laura Dour notices a difference in her demeanor when the season changes.

"If it's sunny and no clouds, we're all in good moods," the medical technology senior said.

But once winter rolls around, it's tough to have energy for schoolwork, Dour said.

"When you wake up, it's dark and gloomy out," said Dour's roommate, Kathy Roth, a social work sophomore. "You don't want to get up."

Brown said people who suffer from SAD have depression-like symptoms — fatigue, sadness or avoidance of friends.

However, SAD differs from depression because the symptoms appear in the fall, once daylight-saving time expires, she said.

The worst months for SAD are usually in the middle of winter — January or February. Once spring returns, however, the symptoms go away, Brown said.

If people have suicidal thoughts in the winter, Brown suggested contacting Olin or the students' primary health provider.

A doctor might recommend purchasing a light box to sit by for up to an hour each day, she said. Light boxes produce intense artificial light to mimic the sun.