A SCOTTISH city has been named the most miserable place to live in the UK.
Experts at The Met Office analysed the average amount of sunlight hours in locations across the country.
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According to the report, people living in Glasgow experience just 1,233 hours of natural light a year.
This compares to the sunniest place in the UK, Chichester, which sees a remarkable 1,918 hours of sun annually.
Inverness also scored badly in the study, with residents experiencing only 1,249 hours of sunlight.
Stirling comes in joint sixth with just 1,279 hours of light each year, the research found.
Sun deprivation is associated with seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which comes and goes depending on the time of year.
The causes are not clear, but scientists think reduced exposure to sunlight in the winter may be important.
It could hinder the production of the hormones melatonin, which is important for regular sleep, and serotonin, also known as the “happy hormone”.
People inhabiting the northern hemisphere are particularly vulnerable as they are forced to endure longer and darker winter nights.
Symptoms include a persistent low mood, loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities, irritability and feelings of worthlessness.
A GP can carry out an assessment to check your mental health and recommend potential treatment plans.
For those with winter SAD, this may look like light therapy or lifestyle measures that encourage seeking natural daylight.
Lifestyle measures that may help include:
- Get as much natural sunlight as possible
- Exercise regularly
- Reduce stress
- Eat a healthy diet
- Light therapy – where a special lamp called a light box is used to simulate exposure to sunlight