For parts of yesterday, many Saskatchewan residents were without power at work, school or at home. For some, it was much longer than others, with power not being restored until the late evening for customers in the southeast. 

Although it was an inconvenience and a health risk for some people, the extended power outage might have actually benefitted everyone. According to Tasha Collins with CMHA Weyburn, a little less time spent with screens and a little more face-to-face time helped our mental health. 

"I definitely think having that opportunity to engage with others is something that can help us maintain our mental health. So yesterday, having that time without the screens available for us, I think that was a way for us to engage in a different way," Collins said. "I think there was benefits to the power outage."

Collins believes we could all benefit from a little more from interactions like those. Our mental health is driven by our personal relationships with friends and co-workers. 

"I definitely think there is ways to benefit from taking time away from our electronics, or unplugging if you will," she explained. "Our mental health is directly related to how we cope with our environment, whether that's at school or at work or play. 

The major outages undoubtedly caused havoc to businesses around the province. But maybe, just maybe, the next time we're all in the dark we'll enjoy it and think about how healthy it is. 

 

READ MORE: Area Schools Closed Due to Power Outage, City Schools Stayed Open

                        Power Outages Leaving Part of Province In Dark