Tips for taking take care of mental health in the holidays

Christmas and the holidays can be a time to see family and friends, unwind and unwrap gifts, but it can also be lonely, and this can trigger stress, anxiety and other mental health conditions.

If you have, or care for a person with, psychosocial disability, the festive season can be a particularly vulnerable time. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to make things a little easier.

We chatted with Danni Bament, a recovery coach and Managing Director of Aspire Recovery Connection, about tips and strategies to take care of your mental health these holidays.

A recovery coach – a relatively new mental health-focused support in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) – helps people take more control of their lives and better manage the complex challenges of day-to-day living.

Can you explain what psychosocial disability is and what it can look like?

Psychosocial disability is not so much about diagnosis – it’s when someone is living with a mental health condition and there are other additional social barriers in place.

The combination of living with mental and emotional distress, as well as social barriers, means it can be difficult to live the kind of life a person dreams of, and have access to things that others can take for granted. Social barriers often involve poverty, lack of friends and family support, and stigma and discrimination.

Everyday life can be very lonely and isolating for people with psychosocial disability and I truly believe this is a problem that we, as a society, need to proactively address.

Whilst we have made a lot of progress in Australia in raising awareness of, and talking about, mental health issues, people with lived experience of mental and emotional distress still face significant stigma and discrimination, creating isolation and loneliness.

What tips do you have to take care of mental health during the holidays?

1. Offer yourself compassion
   This time of year is really difficult for many of us. Loneliness and social isolation are terribly hard things to live with, and Christmas time can compound this.
   
   Be kind to yourself, know that it is ok to feel this way.
   
   Take a few minutes each day to sit and breathe.
   
   Come up with three things that you like about yourself and focus on feeling a sense of love and compassion for yourself. Even if we can’t really ‘feel it’ at first, if you do this for just 5-10 minutes a day, you will start to believe it and feel a sense of comfort in this experience.
   
2. Find out what services are available and open over this period and reach out for support
   Know that it’s ok to struggle and connecting with other people who can listen and be there for you can help a lot. Many community groups have special lunches and get togethers during this time of year and there are always support lines available.
   
   At Aspire Recovery Connection, as a lived experience organisation, we really value the support of peer services such as the Lived Experience Telephone Support Service in South Australia.
   
   If you’re unsure where to turn to, ask your recovery coach or support coordinator to help you put together a list of local and telephone services that are open and available over the
   Christmas period.
   
3. You may want additional NDIS support at this time of year to help you through what can be a challenging emotional time
   Reach out to your network of services (providers) and see if you can book in an extra session or two.

Can you tell us more about what you do at Aspire Recovery Connection?

At Aspire Recovery Connection, our primary aim is to offer compassionate connection to people living with psychosocial disability.

When we feel seen and heard as the amazing people we truly are, healing can begin. Once we begin on our healing journey, overcoming past trauma and the emotional pain from social exclusion, we can begin to explore new opportunities and find people and communities that value and support us.

How do you access recovery coaching?

If you don’t have recovery coaching in your NDIS plan, but the NDIS has recognised you have psychosocial disability, you can request funding for a recovery coach in your plan.

If you have funding in your plan for support coordination and the NDIS has recognised you have psychosocial disability, you may be able to use your funding flexibly for a recovery coach. It depends how the funding has been stipulated, but you can check with your plan manager, the NDIS or your local area coordinator if you’re not sure.

Additional support

It’s completely normal to feel exhausted and anxious at this time of year, particularly if your schedule, routine or services are impacted, or if someone you care for has been affected.

In response, the Australian Government has created a mental health website called Head to Health, which contains information and guidance on taking care of your mental health and wellbeing.

If you’re looking to improve your mental health or provide additional support for someone you care for, Head to Health is a great place to start and contains mental health resources from a range of providers.

Support for people not participating in the NDIS

If you have psychosocial disability and you’re not currently in the NDIS, there are a range of online mental health resources available:

Lifeline 131 114

Kids Helpline 1800 551 800

Beyond Blue 1300 224 636

Headspace 1800 0650 890

SANE Australia 1800 187 263

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Australian Government Department of Health 24-hour Coronavirus hotline 1800 020 080