Winter Blues Cues, New Year New Views
Winter Blues - For many of us, Christmas is a time of fun and celebration, but it can also bring stress and anxiety. Whether you live with mental illness or not, the festive period can intensify feelings of loneliness, increase financial worries and put pressure on people to have the "perfect" Christmas.
One in ten people feel unable to cope at this time of year, according to research by the charity Mind - a figure which rises to a third of people with a mental health problem.
Despite the fact, that millions of us say we've suffered a winter-related low mood, leading to some feeling depressed in winter or suffering from the "winter blues", it can feel as though the ‘winter blues’ is just a myth. But there's sound scientific evidence to support the idea that various seasons can in fact affect our moods, with it being recognised as a real disorder and having the medical name: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Most scientists believe that the problem is related to the way the body responds to daylight. Alison Kerry, from the mental health charity Mind, says:
"With SAD, one theory is that light entering the eye causes changes in hormone levels in the body. In our bodies, light functions to stop the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, making us wake up. It's thought that SAD sufferers are affected by shorter daylight hours in the winter. They produce higher melatonin, causing lethargy and symptoms of depression."
That being said, Christmas and the New Year are particularly difficult periods for those who have no family, social circles or means of support, not to mention those who are living on the streets, in poverty and many others in need of professional help. The festive season inadvertently promotes a state of happiness and that ‘perfect’ family, unattainable for most leaving many feeling pressurised, particularly low, depressed and even suicidal. Sophie Corlett, from mental wellbeing charity Mind, says:
“Our mental health isn’t put on hold over the festive period, so it’s important that services are able to respond. But with some services, such as GP surgeries, which are closed at points across Christmas, it’s important to check in about what support is available.”
Cue The Support - Though this is a challenging time for those with mental illnesses, statutory and voluntary organisations are there to support these individuals and therefore it is vitally important to ask for help. Despite the pressures on the system, services are there for those who need urgent help or are facing a crisis – the doors won’t close to them.
And for those with less serious issues, there are measures that can be taken without resorting to statutory and voluntary services. Family, friends, work colleagues and individuals can watch out for abnormal behaviour, acting out of character, signs and symptoms of possible poor mental health and isolation, try to restore their faith by taking time out to actually listen to them and offer support where possible, at the very least demonstrate empathy.
Finding a place for shelter, a warm meal, and ensuring youngsters are protected are not impossible goals, though at times it might seem like that. Depression and stress can make one unnecessarily pessimistic, although simple measures such as not indulging in alcohol and drugs or spending within means can reduce the plight of those who are not in a good place.
An uplifted spirit will bring back hope for an element of joy at this time of year and trigger off a feelgood factor that can be the springboard to happiness or at the very least, the first step forward on a road of recovery. The power of a supportive community spirit cannot and must not be ignored, Vietnamese soldiers who fought in Vietnam have had no reported cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, why? Well the general consensus is that the soldiers were welcomed back into their supportive community with welcome arms and were embraced with their warm spirit. Something that seems to be inherently lacking in western society in this day and age. Good overall wellbeing that is in balance, brings with it a whole load of goodies in Santa’s stocking, after all, physical fitness, mental health and wealth are meaningless without it. And let’s hope Santa has something for struggling mental health services.
New Year, New View - Mental health is a complex topic. Its genealogy is rooted in human history, but its causes are yet to be fully understood. Public services are needed to confront the problem, but as we know they are currently overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people requiring support, which is why we need the NHS to accept other services, since treating patients in such a systematic and formulaic way is self-defeating. As the German scientist, Albert Einstein once explained, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.
A more benevolent society is a must in conjunction with an increase in empathy and understanding. Improvements to the mental health crisis won’t be solely confronted on an individual level, but instead collectively. Regardless of whether we look to Eastern philosophy, Western treatments or medication, a more compassionate approach based on empathy and understanding is needed. What’s more, by doing so, those left behind by society can finally be acknowledged.
There is one element we have not covered up to this point and that is of us as individuals. For all the community spirit, statutory and voluntary services, eastern and western treatments or dreaded medications, it is time that we accept responsibility for our own wellbeing, both physical and mental, taking ownership of the fact that we have a responsibility to actually look after ourselves. Easier said than done for those with certain mental illnesses or already in a position of poor mental health, however, there is most certainly a majority of individuals who simply need to look within themselves, better understand who they are, embracing strengths and weaknesses, identifying stressors and healthy coping strategies, that will aide prevention of poor mental health and the possibility of this becoming a diagnosed mental illness.
For more information on how we might be of assistance to your organisation, implementing preventative measures that best support your employees and reducing business costs, visit our site Working Minds Matter or email us via Contact Us