The holiday season is in full swing, with various celebrations happening in the next two weeks and it’s according to the holiday-themed messages we receive constantly, this is the most wonderful time of the year. While your schedule may be full, running here and there for the kids with their events at school or finals preparation and your own obligations with work and friends, it’s important to take time for yourself.
Mental health concerns don’t take a break because of a date on the calendar, so it’s important for you to be prepared. This month we’ll discuss some of the statistics surrounding depression, eating disorders and alcohol addictions then discuss some ways you can prepare yourself to have a healthy, happy holiday season.
We often hear that rates of depression and suicide spike at the holidays, which is a myth. Although rates of loneliness and stress may increase at this time, statistics point to the spring as the time most individuals die by suicide. In 2015, the National Institutes of Health reported 16.1 million adults, aged 18 or older had at least one depressive episode in the previous 12 months – that is 6.7 percent of the population.
Those numbers skew heavily towards women and the 18 to 25 age group, which is a shift from the previous decade where those 50 and older reported higher rates of depression. As with all mental health concerns, depression does not discriminate and it can affect anyone.
Eating disorders are also discussed much during the holiday season, as many American families have traditions surrounding food, desserts and indulgence; and there are a number of myths surrounding this topic too. As this is difficult to track, it is estimated approximately three percent of the American population lives with an eating disorder, often hiding it from friends and family.
Without treatment, up to 20 percent of people with serious eating disorders die as a result of their illness, but this number drops to two to three percent with treatment. There is an idea that it’s easy to identify people living with eating disorders or that family gatherings will trigger negative behaviors, and these ideas are simply untrue. Working with medical professionals, people with eating disorders can find complete recovery, no matter what biological factors precipitated a patient’s behaviors.
It is estimated that in 2015 there were 1,200 alcohol-related deaths at the holiday season. That same year, more than 15 million adults reportedly had alcohol use disorder, with this skewing more towards men at 8.4 percent. During the holidays many are celebrating, reconnecting with old friends, and the tendency to “let go” increases.
In 2010, misuse of alcohol cost the U.S. $249 billion and three quarters of that cost is related to binge drinking according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Much has been discussed about the opioid crisis, and it is a very important topic, but alcohol abuse is the third highest cause of death in the country and should not be neglected.
This is quite a bit of heavy information, but there is hope. As the holidays end, the new year is upon us, which is a great time to restart. Whether the restart looks like seeking help for the first time or committing to following a better program with new medications, starting a new exercise regimen, changing what you eat, there’s great news. You can start all those initiatives now, without waiting for January.
Last year, we shared specific tips to beat the holiday blues, which included:
Santa isn’t the only one who should have a toolkit for the holidays, and we hope these tips help you all year long. The Holiner Psychiatric Group is here to help you on your mental health journey. If you’re looking to start a new program, you can fill in our new patient appointment form here or give us a call in Dallas at 972-566-4591 or McKinney at 469-742-0199.