That’s why the Northern Health Region is reminding residents to be kind to themselves and focus on their wellbeing at this time of year.

Shellie Verville, the mental health promotions coordinator for the Region explains we’re kind of in the season of the winter blues so we’re already going into the holiday season probably feeling a little bit tired, maybe a little bit sad and there’s also financial pressure that we experience as the holiday can be really expensive buying gifts for friends and family and it can leave families in a bit of debt even after the holidays.  She adds we also have times when we are with people that we might have strained relationships with, we might not see eye to eye with different family members so that can be an issue over the holidays plus during this time of COVID-19 going on we may not be with the people we love over the holiday season like we have in the past.

Verville says some ways people can reduce their stress during the holidays include getting enough sleep, eating healthy, getting exercise, thinking positive, and not being afraid to ask for or accept help.