The festive season is a wonderful time of year, however, it can also commonly be associated with challenges, stress, and other uncomfortable thoughts/emotions.

There's just more to do at this time of year – lots of catch ups, lunches and celebrations and that's just at work! In their personal life employees are also getting ready for Christmas adding even more catch ups, children's concerts, school wrap-ups and present buying to the list.

Alongside the festive celebrations there's looming deadlines and an increased risk of employee stress.

Holiday stressors

Common festive mental health impacts include:

• Financial stress: 2024 has seen many people experience cost of living pressure, and that can increase leading up to Christmas. Individuals may feel pressure to spend money on travel, gifts, gatherings, and food, which can be financially stressful.

• Loneliness: When there's a mismatch between the amount of social connection, we have compared to the amount we want, it's easy to feel isolated or lonely. While the festive season provides lots of opportunity to connect with friends and family, for others it can highlight what they don't have leading to increased feelings of loneliness.

• Grief and loss: It doesn't matter how much time has gone by, the loss of a person, pet, home, job, health, or the future you thought you'd have, grief can feel amplified during the holidays. Holiday customs and cherished memories can often serve as powerful triggers for grief. A festive dinner table may seem lacking without a beloved person present. With so many grief triggers around, it's important to take time to acknowledge feelings

• Strained relationships: for employees experiencing estrangement, relationship problems, or going through a separation with kids involved, the holidays can bring up feelings of stress, sadness, guilt, grief and anger. Communicating with family can be difficult, scary, and overwhelming.

• Change of routine: many people thrive with routines, which is why it's normal to feel out of control or overwhelmed when school, work, exercise, eating habits, or typical day-to-day schedules are thrown off course. It's okay if you need to slow down to make time for self-care.

Supporting employees

Here are a few practical tips on how to support employees during the holiday season:

• Talk about mental health: as an employer, talking honestly about mental health—and encouraging employees to do the same—is one way to make the workplace feel like a safe space. Schedule regular check-ins with your employees regarding their mental health and learn the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues.

• Encourage flexible schedules: the end of year brings with it plenty of extra demands on employees' time. For many employees balancing holiday events, such as the school Christmas concert, and work obligations can bring additional stress. Support flexibility so that people can manage their work and personal obligations.

• Promote your EAP service: if you have an EAP service encourage staff to use it. EAPs can help employees manage stress and anxiety and improve their overall well-being. It can also help individuals develop strategies to holiday stress.

• Encourage self-care: promote and model self-care behaviours such as exercise, eating well, sleeping, setting boundaries and doing things we enjoy and are rejuvenating.

• Make mental health resources available: LGIS has plenty of resources via our health and wellbeing program including Healthy Intel which has practical tips and a series on financial wellbeing. If you have one, encourage staff to use your EAP service. Also check out the information from Lifeline, Black Dog Institute and other support organisations.