‘Christmas isn’t jolly for everyone’ – Free support groups running daily over the holidays
It can be a difficult time if you’re struggling.
But the charity behind a new Christmas Blues support group that will run daily throughout the holidays hopes it can offer a little hope to anyone experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship issues in the coming days.
“The Christmas period is something most people look forward to,” said Fiona O’Malley, CEO of Turn2Me.
“But it can be a really difficult period for so many people too, particularly if they’ve lost a loved one and are facing their first Christmas without them.
“It can also be very challenging for people who have anxiety or depression, which can be exacerbated by the amount of socially demanding situations over the festive season. Finally, it can be a difficult time for anyone in a bad relationship. The cracks can worsen during a period of spending a lot of time together or apart from one another, and people can compare their relationships to the ones we see glimpses of on social media.”
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Turn2Me runs one-to-one counselling and support groups 365 days a year, including on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Stephen’s Day. This year they’ll be running daily support groups from December 25th to January 1st, 2023.
“Christmas isn’t a jolly time everyone,” said Suzanne Ennis, Clinical Manager at Turn2Me.
“Family or social get-togethers are not always joyous occasions. Stress levels can be at an all-time high for people before, in the middle, and after Christmas.
There is the societal expectation that we are all in high spirits, festive, feeling generous, and want to celebrate. The reality for a lot of people is vastly different. Comparisons are made, we tend to fall short of them, and think what is wrong with me? It is important to remember that we are all only human, if you are struggling, cannot seem to get on top of things. Reach out for assistance, seek professional support.”
Anyone who wants to avail of Turn2Me’s free, professional mental health services over the Christmas period can sign up on Turn2Me.ie.
