Mental Health Support
Updated: Dec 13, 2021
Wellbeing
Whether or not Christmas is part of your life, your mental health might
be affected by it happening around you. It's a time of year that often puts
extra pressure on us and can affect our mental health in lots of different
ways. For example, if you:
• Feel alone or left out because everyone else seems happy when
you're not.
• Wish you didn't have to deal with Christmas or find it stressful because of other events.
• Feel frustrated by other people's views of a 'perfect' Christmas if these feel different to yours.
• Want to celebrate with someone who's struggling.
The festive period could affect your mental health in other ways too. For example:
• Your mental health problem might make it hard for you to spend Christmas how you want.
• Difficult and stressful experiences at Christmas could make your mental health worse.
• It might also affect your mental health, for example if it triggers hypomania or mania.
• It can be harder to access services that normally help you, during the Christmas period.
• Your experiences of last Christmas, during the coronavirus restrictions.
• If you celebrate other religious festivals or holidays, you may feel overlooked.
• New Year may also feel like a hard time, if it makes you look back at difficult memories or worry
about anything in the coming year.
If Christmas is a hard time for you or your family, it's important to remember that you are not alone.
There are things you can try that might help, such as:
• find ways to support others during Christmas
• read tips to help you cope at Christmas
• discover useful contacts for finding support at Christmas.
Use this link to learn more:
Christmas and mental health | Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health problems
For more advice see the website below:
• East Sussex Mental Health Directory www.eastsussex.gov.uk/socialcare/healthadvice/mental-
health/directory/help For mental health resources available to residents of East Sussex
• 5 steps to mental wellbeing - 5 steps to mental wellbeing - NHS (www.nhs.uk) -
• Warning Signs Campaign - www.preventingsuicideinsussex.org/ - Understand the warning
signs someone is at risk of suicide and know what support is available locally
• Support for victims of domestic abuse - www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-
covid-19-and-domestic-abuse/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-victims-of-domestic-abuse
Citizens Advice: gives free confidential information and advice to help people sort out their
money, legal, consumer and other problems.
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