Hope for the holidays

Hope and mental health recourses break through the holiday blues

SARAH CROOKALL Staff Reporter

Holiday blues are a reality that accompany the latter part of each year.

In 2014, research from the National Alliance on Mental Health found that 64 per cent of people with mental health conditions experienced worsened symptoms during the holidays.

Most participants, 40 per cent, said holidays made their condition somewhat worse, and 24 per cent said they made it a lot worse.

Of the people who said their mental health declined during the holidays, 66 per cent said they were lonely, 63 per sent said they felt too much pressure, 57 present held unrealistic expectations, 55 per cent compared happier holiday times to their present situation, and 50 per cent were unable to be with loved ones.

But, a lot has changed in six years.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians reporting very good mental health has declined from 68 per cent in 2019 to 55 per cent in 2020. A crowdsourcing survey, from Statistics Canada, also found youth aged 1524 have had the steepest decline in positive mental health with a 20 per cent reduction since 2019.

Seventy per cent of people identifying as LGBTQ+ reported poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. And twenty-eight per cent of people from visible minorities reported poor mental health, compared to 23 per cent of Caucasians.

Additionally, those reporting poor mental health are up to four times more likely to report increased substance use since the beginning of the pandemic.

Given physical distancing requirements of the pandemic, feelings of loneliness and not being around loved ones may be more amplified. And often, mental health services are overcapacitated during the holidays.

But, regardless of someone’s circumstances, there is always hope. Without challenges, situations can change in a day.

There are resources to help guide people through crises, vent their sorrows, and to connect to services like social workers, counsellors, and legal aid. There are compassionate people who want to listen. Many local services are designed to guide people through difficult times and are free of cost. Through mobile crisis teams, mental health professionals can also make visits to residents' homes, which can limit fear around stigma.

In addition to reaching out for professional help, experts recommend enhancing self-care and coping strategies during stressful times like the holidays. A list of some coping strategies are listen below.

COPING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS

• Manage time carefully, and set time aside for yourself • Call loved ones you can’t see in person • Eat and drink well • Exercise, walk, or maintain some sort of physical activity or movement • Set boundaries. For example, limit time spent on certain activities or around certain people. Decide which gatherings you will attend based on

COVID-19 regulations and your own comfort level • Set time aside for relaxation, however that looks like for you • Do something you enjoy • Reach out to a professional (there’s no shame, mental health is part of overall health)

LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:

• Pembroke Regional Hospital: 24/7 1-866-996-0991 • Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region (serving Renfrew County): 24/7- 613-238-3311 • Canada Suicide Prevention Helpline: 1-833-456-4566 • Centre for Addiction and Mental

Health: 1-800-463-2338 • Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645 • Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 • Mental Health Crisis Line (Ages 16 or older): https://www.crisisline.ca/ 1-866-996-0991 • Child, Youth and Family Crisis Line (Ages 18 and under): www.icrs.ca 1-877-377-7775 • eMentalHealth.ca: 24/7 • ConnexOntario , 24/7, Addiction,

Mental Health, and Problem

Gambling Treatment Services 1-866-531-2600 • BounceBackOntario: Free skillbuilding program 1-866-345-0224, bb-referral@cmhayr.on.ca. • Parents’ Lifelines of Eastern Ontario:

For parents whose children to age 25 are facing mental health challenges 1-855-775-7005

Two electric vehicle charging stations open in KHR

SARAH CROOKALL Staff Reporter

The Township of Killaloe Hagarty and Richards (KHR) gets a little more energized this month.

Two electric vehicle charging stations have been installed in KHR at Killaloe Visitors’ Information. The service will be pay-as-you-go and run through a phone app.

Money for the installation comes from Ottawa River Power.

During the Dec. 7 council meeting, council announced that the Electrical Safety Authority completed a safety inspection on Dec. 10, allowing the stations to be energized and linked to power this week.

“So, there’s two stations so that someone can park on each side,” said community development coordinator Chris Neff.

Once power is connected to the stations, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In other business KHR council passed its asset management plan along with a planning service agreement with the County of Renfrew.

New charging station in KHR. Photo submitted

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