“The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”?
“The most wonderful time of the year…?”
Is that really true? Are the holidays “Merry and bright?” Is there really “Peace on earth?”
In 1859, Charles Dickens famously exclaimed, “It was the best of times and it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom. And it was the age of foolishness“.
Of course, the answer to these questions is personal. For some, the holidays really are the most wonderful time of the year. And, on the other hand, for others, it is a lonely and discouraging time of the year. Things like loneliness, depression, and debt can overshadow the “Peace on earth and good will toward men.”
Studies have proven that the holidays are some of the worst mental health moments of the year.
Especially for young people.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, youth diagnoses of anxiety and depression and mental health issues have been increasing. More than a third of teens say they’ve had persistent sad or hopeless feelings, and 19 percent had considered attempting suicide. 1
Let’s deal with one aspect of mental health. Depression.
Depression can be seen as a severe dejection, sadness, and despondency. It creates isolation, confusion, and fear. It generally is considered long-term, but, it can come and go in various levels for a short period of time also.
There are many troubling signs when it comes to depression.
As a YTH Leader, to identify students who are struggling with depression, here are just a few things you should be looking for:
Poor academic performance in school
Withdrawal from family, friends, and activities
Sadness and hopelessness
Lack of enthusiasm, energy, or motivation
Anger and rage and aggressiveness
Overreaction to criticism
Feelings of being unable to satisfy ideals
Poor self-esteem, cutting, or bodily harm
Indecision or lack of concentration and forgetfulness
Changes in eating or sleeping or behavioral patterns
Substance abuse
Problems with the family, or community, or authority
And ultimately suicidal thoughts or actions
What we must keep in mind is that the reason for the season transcends every human situation. The Christmas season is a celebration of the birth of Christ the Saviour of the world who came about 2,000 years ago. He was prophesied to come as Emmanuel, God with us. It was Christ, whose birth is celebrated at Christmas, who would take away the sins of the world.
A Time of Celebration?
The Times-Reporter Newspaper reported in September, 1985, of a celebration at a New Orleans municipal pool. The party around the pool was held to celebrate the first Summer in memory without a drowning at the New Orleans city pool.
In honor of the occasion, 200 people gathered, including over 100 certified lifeguards. Speeches were made, awards were given, and the party lasted for several hours. As the party was breaking up and the four lifeguards on duty began to clear the pool, they found a fully dressed body lying on the bottom of the deep end.
Diving in to make a rescue, they found Jerome Moody, 31, but it was too late. He had drowned at some point during the evening when he fell into the pool…surrounded by lifeguards celebrating their successful season.
Make sure during this Christmas season you are looking out for the people in your circle. Look for the signs of loneliness, depression, and debt and see how you can meet the need of the world around you.
Finally
Look around you and ask yourself if this is a time for celebration. By the looks of things in America, this is not a time to be throwing parties. There is work to do in our families, in the government, and in American society.
It is okay to celebrate during this Christmas season. But let’s make sure that we are celebrating as a community and mindful of the people around us.
We must look at these clear and practical signs of poor mental health. And we must be willing to act in kind. So that this can truly be “The most wonderful time of the year!”