As the holidays approaches, it is important to recognise that 54% of people have serious concerns during this season about the mental health of someone they know. (Mental Health Foundation survey) A quarter of the people polled say that Christmas makes their mental health worse (YouGov survey).  The ads and movies that promote this time of year as a season of joy, celebration, and togetherness do not reflect everyone’s very real experience and often push people who are struggling with mental health to feel worse. Employers, should you have the privilege of employment, often have in-house support, often for free. Please check them out, if possible for you, and use them. Each use of a service is a vote for the continuance of that sort of service. No-employment-required resources follow:

 

United States
·      SAMHSA – 24/7 helpline
·      988 Suicide and Crisis Helpline – support for people in distress
·      Mental Health America – resources for mental wellness
·      Bereaved Parents of the USA - Help for the loss of a child
·      C.O.P.E Foundation - Help for dealing with the loss of a child
·      Suicide Prevention - Loss Survivors - help for those who have lost a loved one to suicide
·      Mend Together - Resources for Cancer - This site points people to help for cancer related support

 

United Kingdom
·       Samaritans: For those struggling to cope
·       Cruse: Bereavement care
·       Widowed and Young: Charity that supports widows aged 50 or under
·       Macmillan : Cancer support and information service
·       Bodie Hodges Foundation: Supporting families bereaved of a Child
·       Mind: Mental Health Charity Coping at Christmas

 

Canada
·      The LifeLine Canada Foundation - A mental health app aimed at helping those in distress
·      MyGrief.ca - resources for processing grieve over the loss of a loved one
·      The Compassionate Friends of Canada - Support for those who are grieving the loss of a child
·      Crisis Services Canada - help for loss to suicide
·      Canadian Cancer Society - Helpline for resources for cancer support