NORTHSIDERS are being urged to take care of their mental health over the festive season and prepare themselves for a possible emotional anti-climax after the holidays.
The post-Christmas comedown can sometimes be a source of serious depression and suicidal thoughts as society readjusts to humdrum routines after two weeks of celebrating, socialising and over-indulging.
Psychotherapist with Living in Reality (LIR) psychological services on the Ballymun Road, Sabrina Ginesi, believes unrealistic expectations around Christmas can lead to problems afterwards.
“People build themselves up and when the experience is not what they imagined then they are filled with disappointment, anger, frustration and isolation,
? she says.
“People want to experience a little piece of the childhood fantasy of Christmas that they had when they were a kid and that fantasy is soon quashed.
“They are left feeling broken and with a sense of failure.
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Last year Lir’s low cost therapy service noticed an early January surge in doctor referrals from patients struggling to cope emotionally after Christmas and are preparing for a similar New Year influx next week.
“Everything is magnified at Christmas because there’s such an emphasis placed on the time and on family,
? Ms Ginesi continued.
“People can’t deal with the anti-climax.
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Ms Ginesi is backing an early January festival aimed at improving the mood and raising awareness of mental health.
The First Fortnight festival features a series of arts and cultural events all aimed at making the first two weeks in January a little less bleak for everybody.
Among the artists taking part is contemporary British artist, Stuart Semple, who brings his world-renowned Happy Clouds to Dublin for the first time.
The artist will unleash smiley-faced helium clouds in select locations across Dublin during the festival to help lift flagging spirits across the city.
Also taking part in First Fortnight events are broadcaster Marian Finucane award-winning director Peter Sheridan and Irish music acts including Heathers, Vann Music, Come On Live Long, Mark Geary and Laura Elizabeth Hughes.
First Fortnight began in 2010 and co-founder JP Swaine who began the venture with pal David Keegan said this year’s programme of discussions, movies and plays is the best yet.
“This is our most interesting and provocative line up for the festival to date and one which we hope leads to new and interesting reasons for people to talk about mental health,
? he said.
“Conversations started by ordinary people are the only way we can change the stigma and discrimination that persists in the area of mental health.
“First Fortnight hopes to inspire these conversations through provocative arts events.
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Director of Mental Health Reform, Dr Shari McDaid, said First Fortnight presented an opportunity for people who care about mental health to get together and push for change.
“We know that mental and emotional distress has increased during the recession and that one in seven people will have experienced a mental health difficulty in the last year,
? he said.
“This is why we need to see real improvements in the services available.
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The full line-up of festival events can be viewed at www.FirstFortnight.ie.