Turn2Me, a national mental health charity, has stated it expects an increase in demand for its services over the festive period. The charity said every year, the period leading up to and after Christmas is incredibly busy with clients most commonly reporting anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship issues. Turn2Me has launched a free ‘Christmas Blues’ support group which will run over the Christmas period and is reminding the public that it is offering free one-to-one counselling sessions 365 days a year.
The Christmas period is something most people look forward to, Fiona O’Malley, CEO of Turn2Me, said:
But it can be a really difficult period for so many people too, particularly if they’ve lost a loved one and are facing their first Christmas without them. It can also be very challenging for people who have anxiety or depression, which can be exacerbated by of the amount of socially demanding situations over the festive season. Finally, it can be a difficult time for anyone in a bad relationship. The cracks can worsen during a period of spending a lot of time together or apart from one another, and people can compare their relationships to the ones we see glimpses of on social media.
Turn2Me runs one-to-one counselling and support groups 365 days a year, including on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Stephen’s Day. The charity stated that anyone feeling lonely, anxious, depressed, or struggling with grief can avail of their free mental health supports on their website, Turn2Me.ie
Suzanne Ennis, Clinical Manager at Turn2Me said:
Christmas isn’t a jolly time everyone. Family or social get-togethers are not always joyous occasions. Stress levels can be at an all-time high for people before, in the middle and after Christmas. There is the societal expectation that we are all in high spirits, festive, feeling generous and want to celebrate. The reality for a lot of people is vastly different. Comparisons are made, we tend to fall short of them, and think what is wrong with me? It is important to remember that we are all only human, if you are struggling, cannot seem to get on top of things. Reach out for assistance, seek professional support. We are running daily support groups from the 25th Dec – 1st Jan.
Anyone who wants to avail of Turn2Me’s free, professional mental health services over the Christmas period can sign up on Turn2Me.ie
About Turn2Me:
Turn2me was founded in 2009 stemming from the very personal experiences of Oisin and Diarmuid Scollard, who lost their brother to suicide in 2003. In 2013, turn2me gained the support of the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention to deliver counselling online. In 2019, turn2me joined forces with ReachOut Ireland to create a space for young people to find information to support their mental health online. As of September 2021, turn2me offers adult counselling and peer support services to adults and young people aged 12 plus. It also offers group support services for teenagers, young people and adults.
Help support Cork Safety Alerts by becoming a member – Click Here