More than half of Canadians say Christmas hurts their mental health
Posted Dec 13, 2021 1:27 pm.
Last Updated Dec 13, 2021 1:31 pm.
More than half of Canadians say the holiday season can be a source of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
A recent survey from Maru/Blue on behalf of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) says for 52 per cent, the holidays are not the most wonderful time of year and negatively impact their mental health.
The high expectations and emotional labour associated with the festive season can make Christmastime especially challenging for people already struggling with their mental health.
The CMHA also says that one-quarter of Canadians have increased feelings of anxiety during the holidays, a quarter of women feel depressed during Christmas, and crisis calls to youth hotlines jump by around 23 per cent at this time of year.
The mental health organization says Canadians can reset their expectations about this time of year to help prevent feeling more blue than normal. It also encourages people to divert responsibility of the season onto those who can manage it.
