DAYLIGHT saving contributes to poor mental health, according to
a psychologist. Southern Cross University's James Donnelly, of
the School of Health and Human Services, said studies had shown
there was a rise in heart attacks and workplace accidents
following the introduction of DST. "People are sleep deprived
anyway," Dr Donnelly said. "They have sleep debt and daylight
saving can bankrupt them. "When daylight saving happens it's
usually on the weekend when people have been up late the day
before." He said it was a "triple whammy" with sleep
deprivation, daylight saving and the consumption of alcohol.
"Daylight saving does give people the opportunity to stop and
re-evaluate their sleeping patterns," he said. He said people
should avoid drinking alcohol on the weekend, caffeine at the
end of the day and working on the computer late at night. Dr
Donnelly said about 80% of people would not feel the effects.
Daylight saving came into effect for NSW on Sunday morning.