Psychiatry Redefined Response to the New York Times Article on sunlight exposure (July 8, 2025)
This week’s, “NYT Article: What Are the Health Benefits of Sunshine? highlights what many in integrative and functional medicine have long observed: sunlight is more than a wellness trend—it is a powerful physiological regulator with measurable impact on mental and physical health.
But for clinicians, the implications go far deeper than general well-being. Sunlight is a critical modulator of circadian rhythms, immune function, vitamin D synthesis, and inflammatory pathways—all key biological systems linked to mental illness.
As Dr. James Greenblatt, Chief Medical Officer of Psychiatry Redefined, explains:
“The therapeutic potential of sunlight remains dramatically underappreciated in clinical psychiatry. While we’ve medicalized light with artificial boxes for seasonal depression, the core truth remains: natural sunlight is a potent, free intervention that influences mood, immunity, and neurological resilience. As the evidence mounts, it’s time to move light exposure from lifestyle footnote to clinical protocol.”
Supporting Evidence Clinicians Should Know
Several compelling studies reinforce the clinical relevance of light exposure:
- Sunlight and COVID-19 Recovery
Asyary & Veruswati (2020) found that increased sunlight exposure in Jakarta was significantly associated with higher recovery rates from COVID-19.. - Latitude and Mortality
Whittemore (2020) showed a strong correlation between lower COVID-19 death rates and proximity to the equator across 88 countries. - Northerly Latitude, Vitamin D & Age-Adjusted Mortality
Rhodes et al. (2020) demonstrated that for every 1° increase in latitude, mortality rose by 4.4%—even after adjusting for age.
As mental health professionals seek non-pharmacological tools to improve resilience and recovery, sunlight—and its biochemical effects—deserves renewed attention. From circadian entrainment and mitochondrial function to immune modulation and neuroinflammation, sunlight exposure represents a foundational strategy in the functional psychiatry toolkit.
“In our pursuit of personalized, root-cause psychiatry, we cannot overlook the simplest interventions. Sunlight is not just a wellness trend—it’s biology. And it should be part of every clinician’s protocol for mental health recovery.”
— Dr. James Greenblatt, Psychiatry Redefined
