Keeping well this Christmas

Keeping well this Christmas

We all think of having a good time at Christmas. Stress and loneliness aren’t something people tend to talk about during the holiday period. However, at this time of year, it is extremely important to look after your own mental health and that of family and friends, says the Public Health Agency (PHA).

This is particularly important as people’s alcohol consumption can increase over the festive period, which may increase feelings of stress or depression.

Madeline Heaney, Regional Lead for Mental Health Promotion, PHA, explained: “Christmas is seen as the season of goodwill, so we are encouraging people to reflect this by caring about the wellbeing of those close to them over the holiday period, and also to bear in mind their own welfare.

“While many of us are looking forward to the fun of Christmas, for some people this is a very difficult time, perhaps because of the expense involved, stress, loss of a loved one, or feelings of isolation or loneliness. This Christmas, we should all look after our own mental health and look out for our relations, friends and neighbours.

“The addition of alcohol into the mix can produce added problems, as there’s a strong link between heavy drinking and depression, and hangovers often leave you feeling anxious and low. If you are already feeling down, drinking can make it worse, so cutting down may put you in a better mood generally. Drinking can also affect your sleep. Although it can help some people fall asleep quickly, it can also disrupt your sleep patterns and stop you from sleeping deeply which in turn, can add to your feelings of low mood.”

Amid all the flurry of Christmas, taking time out to remember a few simple ways to protect your mental wellbeing over the holidays could make all the difference. These include:

  •  Don’t be afraid to give and accept support – being available for others if they need support should encourage them to be there for you too
  •  Make time for family and friends
  • Knowing who you are, think about and try to do what makes you really happy, and learn to balance what you can and cannot change about yourself
  • If you choose to drink, staying within the safe drinking limits and avoiding excessive or binge drinking is important.

Madeline Heaney added: “More information on looking after your mental health and the support which is available across Northern Ireland can be found at www.mindingyourhead.info. You can also visit your GP for advice.

“If you or someone you know is in distress or despair, call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. This is a confidential service, where trained counsellors will listen and help immediately on the phone and follow up with other support if necessary. The helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also access the Lifeline website at www.lifelinehelpline.info.

“Mental wellbeing is something that we all need to be aware of. It is nothing to be embarrassed about, and is something which we should feel confident about addressing,” concluded Madeline Heaney.

Further information

Contact PHA Communications on 028 9055 3663

Notes to the editor
  • Please include the Lifeline number in your article (and any subsequent coverage on the subject of promoting mental health and suicide prevention):

Call Lifeline: 0808 808 8000 if you need confidential support services and advice.  This is a free helpline service available 24/7.  You can also access the website www.lifelinehelpline.info

 

 

 

  • Daily alcohol limits are recommended by the government in order to avoid the risks of excessive and binge drinking in any one session. These are:

Men:

No more than 3 to 4 units of alcohol a day and no more than 21 units over the course of the week.

 Women:

No more than 2 to 3 units of alcohol a day and no more than 14 units over the course of the week.

 

Examples of units:

 

70cl bottle of wine - 7 to 10 units

Small pub bottle of wine - 2.25 units

Standard 275ml of alcopops - 1.5 to 1.8 units

70cl bottle of alcopops - 3.75 to 4.5 units

Pub measure of spirits - 1.5 units

Can of extra strong lager - 4 units

Bottle of lager - 1.5 units

Pint of standard lager - 2.5 units

Pint of premium larger - 3 units

Pint of cider - 3 units

Pint of stout - 2.5 units