Mental Health Tips for the Holidays
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 52 per cent of Canadians report feelings of anxiety, depression, and isolation during the holidays.
This year is another challenging one, with stricter restrictions being implemented and a new variant disrupting plans to gather with friends and family.
Pamela Findling, Senior Manager, Communications at CMHA BC Division, joined CTV Morning Live with tips to get through the holidays.
There are several options for those in an emergency situation.
- For those that need help right away, they can call 911.
- Residents of Vancouver can also go to the Access and Assessment Centre at Vancouver General Hospital from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) is available any time day or night.
Mental Health support is available 24 hours a day on the BC Crisis Line.
Simply dial 310-6789 with no area code and you will be connected to a crisis line worker who is there to listen and support.
They have the ability to refer you to community resources.
For those that prefer assistance digitally, the crisis centre chat is available from noon to 1 a.m. every day at crisiscentrechat.ca.
Findling had some general tips to share to help get through the holidays:
- Take care of physical health. This can be done by consuming a healthy diet, getting enough rest, and making time for physical exercise.
- Create space for relaxation. This can take on many forms depending on the individual. Brisk walks, connecting with nature, or a soak in a bath may help.
- Take stock of your emotions. With so much going on in the world it is understandable to be more emotional this holiday season. Take time to process and address these emotions. Journaling, online support groups, and talking to loved ones can help.
- Avoid doomscrolling and overingesting bad news. It is important to keep informed, but too much consumption can lead to feelings of depression, despair, and anxiety.
The resources and services the Canadian Mental Health Association provides would not be possible without generous donors.
Centra Windows has always believed in supporting the community that supports them.
They donated $95,000 this year to the CMHA BC Division.
Check out the full video from CTV Morning Live to learn more about how to cope over the holiday season.
Plus, learn how you can support the Canadian Mental Health Association and the services they provide.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.