Whether you lost a loved one, faced illness, divorce, redundancy, financial problems, or any other life challenge, we can naturally avoid thinking about difficult experiences, and talking about them.
We have just ‘celebrated’ the 2024 festive period and stepped into 2025. Social media has this habit of portraying a picture-perfect scene of what Christmas should look like; however, this time of year can generate mixed emotions and it’s not necessarily a time of celebration and joy for everyone.
My brother died suddenly when I was 13 years old – he was young, only aged 17 – and every Christmas, there is that void. I am divorced, having separated from my daughter’s dad a few years ago when she was only four, and her time is now split between both homes (and all she wants for Christmas is Mummy and Daddy to be together again). Some years are easier than others, but this year was especially hard waking up on Christmas Day, Bridget Jones style. For my mental health and wellbeing, I unplugged from social media between Christmas and New Year and while many were out partying hard and ‘loving’ life, I sought solitude to allow time for reflection, and to reset.
I watched many a Christmas film across December with my daughter (who didn’t watch Home Alone this year??) with one film really striking a chord with me – That Christmas – an animated, heartwarming Netflix film. The themes were poignant, showing the multi-faceted lives we all lead with the story revolving around friendship, love, family, loneliness, and finding joy in the little things. We should absolutely celebrate the wins, but we are also learning to live with the losses.
Many will reflect on what a great year 2024 was for them. However, we should be mindful that others have been suffering and struggling with loss, illness, financial worries, relationship issues, family pressures. All these difficult life challenges can directly affect mental health and we need to increase awareness and encourage discussing the mental health challenges we face more openly. We need to make talking about mental health the ‘norm’ – not taboo.
Time to Talk Day
Time to Talk Day, on 6 February 2025, is a day to challenge discrimination, reduce the stigma that often surrounds mental health issues, and promote understanding and empathy. It’s a chance for us all to have honest conversations about our mental health, and how we really feel.
In 2022, mental health was the fifth most common reason given for sickness absence, accounting for 7.9% of occurrences (Mental health at work: statistics | Mental Health Foundation). Fast forward just two years and poor mental health (such as stress, depression and anxiety) has become the leading cause of long-term work-related absence at around 50% of all reported absences (53 workplace mental health statistics you can’t ignore in 2024).
There are many UK charities (Samaritans, Mind, SAMH) you can speak to, confidentially, about how you are feeling and seek support from. You may even have access to an employee assistance programme through your employer, which can offer face-to-face/telephone counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Look into what resources are available by speaking to your HR team or mental health first aider at work. The statistics show that you are not alone. You do not need to suffer in silence – reach out for support when you need it. Yes, talking about our mental health is not easy; however, a single conversation has the power to change lives. Every conversation matters.
So, what can YOU do to help others?
You can turn a bad day into a better one simply by texting a friend and checking in, going for a walk and talk, arranging a coffee and chat, evening video call, or running an office lunch and learn – even a sticky note on someone’s desk. A colleague left one for me a few months ago, wishing me a good weekend and it brightened my day. Little gestures can make a huge difference.
Amid all the New Year’s resolutions and good intentions to do better (eat healthier, lose weight, exercise more, quit smoking/go alcohol-free, sleep more, whatever they may be), WE should all be making one very important one – to keep an eye out for our loved ones, check in on them, let them know you are there to listen, without judgement, and support them.
Let’s lean on community, kindness and hope – here’s to brighter days and taking care of each other.
Start a conversation this #TimeToTalk Day, however you do it.
This article was written by Employee Benefits Consultant, Jo Aitken.
Content at the time of writing (January 2025).
