BBC News reported that free SAD lamps are being given out to people affected by seasonal affective disorder, a condition that can make the darker months difficult. The Guardian separately published a video on the same subject, which asks what happens to the brain when the days get darker. Both reports focus on the winter period.

According to The Guardian, many people experience low mood as nights draw in, but a smaller proportion develop a more intense depression through the winter months. The outlet said this has been labeled seasonal affective disorder, or Sad, since the 1980s, and that it "can be debilitating for sufferers." In the video, presenter Ian Sample speaks with Russell Foster about the latest scientific understanding of the condition. The video was published on November 10.

BBC News, in an article published on November 11, reported on the lamp handout under a headline that described the disorder as one that "makes it hard to do anything on darker days." Its summary states that seasonal affective disorder can affect mood, energy and sleep during the winter months. The summary does not say who is eligible for the lamps, how many are being distributed, or where they are available.

The two reports differ in emphasis. The Guardian's video focuses on the scientific understanding of the condition, while BBC News focuses on the distribution of lamps and the effects of the disorder on daily life. The sources do not state whether the two outlets' coverage is connected.

Both sources tie the condition to the winter months, but they describe its reach differently. The Guardian said a small proportion of people develop the more intense form, while its summary says many people experience low mood. The BBC summary does not state how many people are affected.

Sources: The Guardian: What happens to your brain when the days get darker? - video; BBC News: Free SAD lamps given out as disorder 'makes it hard to do anything on darker days'.