For most folks, the holidays are full of laughter and cheer, but not everyone feels merry during this time of year. From jam-packed social calendars, deadlines at work, loss of a loved one or sunless winter days, there are a variety of reasons why individuals may not be cheerful during the end of the year stretch.
“We are coming out of a period of incredible overlapping public crisis’ and some folks still haven’t recovered economically, socially or spiritually largely from the impact of covid,” said Khristopher Decker, vice president of behavioral health at Evergreen Health. “We have this bombardment of representation from the media that we are supposed to be blissfully happy during this season, and it can be a combination of that and the unrealistic expectations we put on ourselves and what others put on us that are just out of reach for most people.”
According to the American Psychological Association, over 40 percent of those surveyed felt increased levels of stress, depression and anxiety during the holiday season. Another study conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that people living with mental health conditions felt that their symptoms worsened around the holidays.
“Let someone know that you are having a tough time and give them permission to ask how you are doing and to check on you. It’s also okay to not suffer alone and not keep the pain in silence, it usually doesn’t get better all by itself without some help,” said Decker.
Decker recommends that individuals reconsider their usual habits and find a way to unplug from the constant holiday exposure. Whether it is exercise, hanging out with a friend or making a meal that one enjoys, it is important to give yourself a break or seek professional help when needed. He also noted the classic signs to look for when identifying potential mental or behavioral health conditions such as: changes in sleeping and eating patterns for an extended period of time, lasting shifts in mood, a sense of hopelessness, lack of interests in hobbies or activities and frequent talk or thinking of death.
It has become too common to hear about the increase in suicide rates among those dealing with mental and behavioral health conditions. While there is still a lot of stigma surrounding suicide, it is often the case that folks who have experienced the loss of a loved one blame themselves or expect they should have picked up on the signs. Additionally, those affected will not often seek help for fear demeaning the memory of their loved one.
When asked about the state of mental healthcare in Buffalo, Decker stated that the city in large parts is mirroring the rest of the nation when it comes to issues that stem from covid including racial and social justice disparities. He added that the demand for mental health services has skyrocketed and most providers in the area are struggling to keep up with the demand. Evergreen Health has a long history of providing primary, supportive and behavioral health services to marginalized communities and they recently announced the expansion of their mental health programs to accommodate the increase seen across the communities they specialize in.
“Our mental health program is unique in that we serve a lot of people who identify as sexual or gender minorities,” said Decker. “We are very lucky to be able to physically expand the clinic space and add room for more staff and increase our capacity to serve another 400 or 500 people each year, which will really make a difference for the populations that Evergreen specializes in.”
As 2023 nears the horizon, Decker hopes that folks make a commitment to exercise their mental health care much like any other healthy habits and to not be intimidated to check in on others to see how they are doing.
“The biggest thing that we can do as people who care about each other is to be unafraid and to ask the person ‘how are you doing.’ We sometimes get afraid of offending people or think that it’s not our business. I’m just of the opinion that I would rather offend you than lose you,” said Decker.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency, see below for some resources to help you through difficult times.
24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 716-834-3131
24 Hour Addiction Hotline: 716-831-7007
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
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