By Jesse Graham
CHRISTMAS time is a time for giving, for catching up with loved ones and for taking time off to enjoy the holidays.
But between last-minute shopping and financial pressures and organising the holidays with family and friends, it can be a stressful and overwhelming time for some.
Eastern Health counsellors are asking residents to look out for their friends, family and neighbours who might be doing it tough over the holidays, to keep track of mental health and to reach out when things get tough.
Healesville counsellor Alan Honeycombe said the counselling service at Yarra Valley Community Health generally has more referrals during the December holiday period.
“November was pretty quiet, but as Christmas approaches, the referrals rack up a bit,” he said.
“Like anything else, Christmas sort-of exacerbates existing problems; if things are going well, it exacerbates the fun and the togetherness – if things are not going well, it brings out the stresses.
“Then, there’s people who’ve broken up, and how do you deal with the kids in that situation? It exacerbates a lot of existing problems for some people.”
Mr Honeycombe said that even though Christmas card giving may be slowing down, in favour of holiday emails and text messages, it’s important to check in with people, particularly those who may be having a hard time over the holidays.
“We used to send a lot of Christmas cards, just to let people know that you’re still around and you’re still thinking about them – now it’s a lot of emails that go around and a lot of text messages, and that’s fine,” he said.
“I think it’s really important – it’s a good opportunity to spread the love and catch up … and find out, make sure people are in a good place.”
If things are getting too tough or lonely over the holidays, Mr Honeycombe recommended people reach out to help, whether that be to friends or to a professional.
“I think, try to keep things in perspective,” he said.
“Things tend to blow out, but it’s really a matter of dealing with one thing at a time – issues are usually not as big as they seem.
“You need to try and think, ‘What’s the big thing here? What’s the main, overriding issue?’, and these other little things that are bubbling away underneath can often be dealt with, if you take it slowly.”
Counselling through Yarra Valley Community Health is free, though Mr Honeycombe said residents should book in advance, as there can often be a wait of “a few weeks”.
Eastern Health Mental Health Dual Diagnosis Service Manager Gavin Foster said residents should not turn to alcohol and drugs as a “coping mechanism” for loneliness.
“This can make difficult times in our life worse. So, make sure you eat healthy, drink plenty of water and stay active to ensure you are both mentally and physically fit over the holiday period,” he said.
Mr Honeycombe said residents were welcome to join a free Christmas lunch put on by the Healesville Uniting Church at the Darren Honey Centre on Christmas Day – anyone interested can call Reverend Jennie Gordon on 0416 152 051.
To book a session through the counselling service, call 1300 342 255 and select option 7.
