Our reporters talk to therapists about depression at Christmas
By Harriet Churchward, Charlotte Luxford, James Pennicott, Russ Greaves and Josh Burrows
Christmas festivities are an exciting time for most, but Merton therapists have warned that it’s difficult for some.
With four weeks until Christmas, Wimbledon counsellors say divorce, debt and depression are issues that face residents, but help is at hand to fix the seasonal blues.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a one-fits-all solution to a range of emotional problems, is now freely available on the NHS explained Wimbledon psychotherapist Averil Williams.
She said while psychotherapy is a long-term solution, a quicker fix to deal with issues over Christmas would be CBT, but she warns this is a treatment for the symptom, not the root cause.
Another counsellor, Louise Rawlins, added: “CBT can be a useful short term method of dealing with specific issues.
“But if there are serious underlying problems that have come to the fore because of the demands of the festive period then a more psychodynamic therapy will be needed.”
Surveys label Christmas the sixth most stressful event in life, with financial worries, family conflict, social fears and eating disorders brought into sharp focus.
Practising counsellor Simon Bunch said: “All those things can come together at this time of year and they’re all stress factors in a person’s mental health,” said Mr Bunch.
He added: “Christmas is usually regarded among counsellors as the most vulnerable time of year.
Jeffery Ahmed, research doctor at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital said: “Christmas is an especially difficult time for our patients already burdened with mental health problems.
“For many of these patients it’s a particularly lonely and depressing time, often leading to acute psychiatric episodes. For them it’s not so much jingle bells as jingle hell.”
