A not so Merry Christmas
CONTENT WARNING: THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
Have you ever walked into a room full of people who are laughing, and smiled? You just couldn’t help it – the environment you found yourself in instantly impacted your mood.
Similarly, certain times of the year can significantly affect your mental health, and the mental health of those around you. It might be the little boost of feel-good hormone serotonin as daylight savings clocks in, and you can finally escape the dreariness of winter.
But this impact of environment on mood might also be the reason some people feel particularly low during December – known colloquially as ‘festive depression’.
Rates of depression and suicide during the festive period are inconsistent – while some indicate high depression rates, other over Christmas, followed by a sharp spike in the lead-up to the New Year.
