MANY of us enjoy the holiday festivities, but for some, this time of year only brings extra stress, exacerbating problems like depression.

For those living in poverty, the pressure can be especially intense, especially for families who endure a daily struggle to put food on the table, as well as those who are already marginalised.

According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 7.8 per cent of people in Britain currently meet the criteria for an official medical diagnosis of anxiety and depression, while 4-10 per cent of people in England will experience a depressive episode at least once in their lifetime.

Over Christmas and the new year period, depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts often worsen among the populace, as a congruence of pressures conflates to burden those attempting to cope.

Even though some of the stigma has lessened, mental health is still a big taboo — and it can be hard for people to admit they’re suffering, when everyone’s focused on celebrating.

In the West, the cultural pressures surrounding the festive season can become unbearable, as expectations that everyone should be celebrating with loved ones too frequently conflicts with the reality of many people’s circumstances.

As the old year draws to a close, we’re encouraged to take stock of what we have achieved, and what we hope to achieve over the coming year — but for some, the sole focus is on day-to-day survival.

Around 14.2 million people in the UK currently live in poverty — and instead of looking forward to 2022, many of them are facing an uncertain future.  

Looming issues, like risk of eviction, mean that for them, new year is not a celebration of hope, but an event that triggers feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and powerlessness.

For others attempting to cope with grief or loneliness, the holidays can also invoke equal feelings of dread.  

Poverty is a core contributor to mental health issues, which are far from evenly distributed — research has found they rise according to economic disadvantage.

The most disadvantaged are those disproportionately affected by issues like depression, anxiety and stress, yet they’re also the demographic who find it hardest to attain the help they need.

Covid-19 has also worsened Britain’s mental health crisis, due to a dramatic increase in social isolation and lack of access to services. 

During the early 2021 lockdown, between January and March 21 per cent of UK adults were experiencing some form of depression, an increase from 19 per cent in November 2020, and over double the 10 per cent suffering prior to the pandemic.

In addition, recent Office for National Statistics figures show that as GPs attempt to treat a backlog of patients, the rate of depression diagnoses has fallen by 23.7 per cent — many are not receiving the essential care they require.

Though mental health has enjoyed more attention in recent years, it’s still largely being ignored, and there are plenty who still feel too ashamed to speak out.

While sports stars like Frank Bruno and Tyson Fury have helped to amplify the issue by talking about their experiences, and musicians like Drake and Eminem have alluded to mental health struggles in their songs, the problem is mostly swept under the rug. 

Yet it’s an issue affecting millions — ignoring it will have serious societal and individual consequences.

Focusing on tackling issues like depression pays dividends for the whole of society, and encouraging cultural openness about these issues helps to change the perspective of how we look at ourselves, and others who struggle with their mental health.

Lessening the taboo surrounding mental health also increases the likelihood of sufferers reaching out for help — but what happens when the lifesaving services they rely on simply aren’t there?

The Tories severe underfunding of mental health and community outreach services has made it harder for people to reach out when they need assistance the most, including over the festive season. 

This will have a knock on effect on already marginalised communities, such as the homeless, the disabled and ethnic minorities, who experience an increase in the occurrence of mental health difficulties.

Due to the pandemic and initiatives like remote working, we all experience less face-to-face connection than we did prior to the pandemic, and the human contact that helps alleviate many mental health issues, is for some, sorely lacking.

The impact of the crisis has undeniably contributed to the suicide rate, which also rises over Christmas and the new year, aggravating an already grave situation.

Mental health issues are multigenerational, and due to the fallout from Covid-19, the difficulty in accessing benefits and the spiralling poverty rate, they’ll impact young people for years to come.

The charity Mind has called on the government to plough £1.5 billion into needed mental health services for youth, yet currently just over 33 per cent of children and young people receive the support they need.

In deprived areas, issues like self-harm have skyrocketed, with one study showing 39 per cent of young people in the East Midlands were found to have self-harmed in 2021. 

Though Boris Johnson has announced there will be no new restrictions before the new year, many people with mental health issues are still isolated or lacking access to help due to the impact of the pandemic.

Despite this, the sitting government continues to cut benefits and strip funds from services that could lessen or ease their problems.

In their recent Spending Review the Tories failed to outline what percentage of funding would be allocated to mental health services, though Health Secretary Sajid Javid has now announced plans for major mental health reform, with a public review incoming in the new year.

Britain mental health crisis is showing no signs of abating, and the need to tackle this issue is urgent — the left and particularly the Labour Party, as opposition, must now place serious pressure on the government to ensure they take appropriate action.

If you’re struggling to cope over Christmas and the new year celebrations, it’s important to remember that there many people also feel this way. You are not alone — and there is help and support out there. For access to confidential support in times of distress, The Samaritans are available at any time, 24/7. Simply call 116 123 free from any phone, or by emailing jo@samaritans.org. 

Mind’s info line is open 9am-6pm and they can be contacted on 0300 123-3393 or emailed at info@mind.org.co.uk or you can use their available web chat service at mind.org.uk. Calls from UK landlines are charged at local rates. 

You can also receive mental health support for free via SMS by texting SHOUT to 85258.