News

3 December, 2024

Holiday blues on rise

Record levels of demand for mental health services have prompted experts to encourage Moreton Bay and Somerset residents to be aware of their own mental health and that of family and friends, especially over the Christmas period.

Caboolture and Redcliffe Metro North hospitals experienced a 10 per cent increase in mental health presentations to the emergency department over the 2023 Christmas period, not including people who see or speak to their general practitioner, psychologist, counsellor, or non-government service for assistance.

Nationally, Lifeline has experienced “record levels of demand”, with eight of their top 10 busiest days ever happening in 2024.

Last December, Lifeline received an average of one call every 30 seconds, having been contacted nearly 150,000 times across their phone, text and chat crisis support services.

A spokesperson said the group was anticipating requests to increase over the holiday season.

“It is completely normal to feel isolated, worried or unsettled at this time of year,” the spokesperson said.

“The festive season is depicted as a time of joy, celebration and togetherness, but the holidays can bring about a complex and intense mix of emotions for many people.

“Even those of us who are among friends or family find that it can bring its own set of challenges – from heightened financial pressures, increased family conflict, loneliness or grief, to the weight of expectations, old wounds and disappointment, a combination of personal stressors can rise or become exacerbated throughout the holiday season.”

Loneliness was identified as one of the most common underlying reason for mental health struggles over Christmas, experts who spoke to The Sentinel said.

Some countries have labelled the issue an epidemic, with Beyond Blue research, showing one in three people feel loneliness, with one in four saying they feel persistently lonely.

Loneliness can be caused by social isolation.

Another form of loneliness identified by Credentialed Mental Health Nurse and Operations Director at Metro North Mental Health – Redcliffe/Caboolture, Scott Haworth, and Beyond Blue clinical spokesperson, Dr Luke Martin, is feeling lonely even when surrounded by friends and family.

“When we talk about social isolation, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there isn’t direct contact with others, but sometimes it’s about that feeling of connectedness and engagement, so people can feel quite socially isolated even if they are surrounded by friends and family,” Mr Haworth said.

Dr Martin said: “Christmas can magnify your sense of being isolated due to everyone else having full social calendars and you maybe don’t.

“You can also be surrounded by people and still feel lonely, because loneliness is a very subjective feeling.

“It can mean that someone’s social needs are not being met by their current social relations, so it can be a bit of an internal alarm saying ‘I need deeper social connections’.”

Mr Haworth said the emergency department sees approximately a 10 per cent increase of mental health presentations over the Christmas period.

“Alcohol and drugs, domestic violence, financial strains... one or all of these reasons may contribute to someone seeking mental health assistance through the Christmas period,” he said.

Another reason mentioned by Mr Haworth for more crisis presentations in public mental health services includes the closure of many support services over the holiday period, along with the potential absence of friends and family.

“Experiencing a mental health crisis over Christmas will look different for different people,” he said.

“It might include being at risk of harm to self or others, anxiety or panic attacks or flashbacks or nightmares of past experiences. Accessing the right support is vital for anyone suffering a mental health crisis or mental ill health.”
Clinical psychologist and director of EskPsych, Dr Vikki Knott, identified depression and anxiety as two common conditions that can be exacerbated during this time of year.

POSTPONING WORRY
Dr Knott’s tips for anyone experiencing loneliness included seeking out social connections, such as joining community groups, attending local Christmas events, even if alone, or finding social activities in the area.
For people who experience increased anxiety, Dr Knott recommended using a technique called ‘worry postponement’.
“Take 10 minutes per day dedicated exclusively to worrying.
During that time, let yourself worry about anything and everything that comes to mind and look at those worries and examine which of those are ‘real’ worries, that we can problem solve and do something about,” she said.
“We can spend a lot of our day worrying about the ‘what if’, but there is actually nothing we can do about it.
“By containing these worries to 10 minutes per day, we reduce our worry time and if we worry about something outside of that scheduled time, we can acknowledge it but say ‘it’s not time for this now, I’ll save it to tomorrow’.”
Dr Knott also recommended that people suffering from increased anxiety this time of year learn to say ‘no’ to some events, if they feel they are not coping with the pressures.
THREE KEY TIPS
When it comes to depression, Dr Knott identified a trifecta of things people can do:

1. Engaging in anything that gives you pleasure, which can be as simple as stocking up your favourite tea for Christmas.
   Sitting down, enjoying the moment with that tea, its flavours and smells.

2. Do anything that gives you a sense of achievement, no matter how small, as depression makes it very difficult to get things done.
   Pick a small task that can be achieved and it can help lift the mood.

3. Make an effort to connect with people, be it via phone, via FaceTime, or going out and connecting with others outside.
   “During Christmas we all have a tendency to reflect, but with the depression there is a tendency to engage in rumination rather than reflection,” Dr Knott said.
   “Reflection is a healthy thing where we look at the past and think about how we can move forward and make improvements.
   “When we ruminate, we often think the worst, start catastrophising and that maintains depression.
   “Notice your thinking, notice your thoughts, try to bring yourself out of your head and into the present moment; go outside and notice the trees, notice the birds... whatever gets you out of your head.”

NEW YEAR BLUES

Beyond Blue’s Dr Luke Martin, said the organisation received an average of 800 contacts per day, but that increases even more in the new year.
“I think a lot of people delay support seeking until after Christmas, when life returns to normal,” he said.
“We’re really keen for people not to wait and not delay seeking support, because we know often problems can snowball and become bigger the longer you leave them.
“Christmas we are very keen to send that message: you don’t need to struggle alone.”
Dr Martin and Dr Knott emphasised the importance of people managing their expectations for this time of year.
“Sometimes we have expectations of this idea that Christmas is like in the movies and get engaged in that narrative, but the reality is that narrative is not reality,” Dr Knott said.
“Keep your expectations at an appropriate level and that way you’re less likely to be disappointed.”
Some indications a loved one might be struggling with mental health during this holiday season includes changes in their normal behaviours and avoidance, such as withdrawing from most social activities and losing touch with friends and family, or someone acting unusually stressed and anxious, not sleeping properly, or suddenly feeling extremely and consistently flat.
If a friend or family member needs help, there are a range of telephone support and other options available to provide help, including:
Head to Health Service Navigators on 1800 592 212 (8.30 am - 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday).
Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636.
Tips on managing the holiday season: toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/general/mental-wellness-during-the-holiday-season.

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