considered one of the hardest
times of the year for anyone
struggling with mental health.
64% of people living with a
mental illness report that their
conditions worsen over the
holidays, and now the recent
death by suicide of famed
dancer, producer and dj twitch
has sparked a national
conversation about the struggles
many people face during the
holiday season.
We are going to explore some of
those concerns with Dr. Gregory
Scott brown, a psychiatrist and
author of the book "The
self-healing mind: An essential
five-step practice for
overcoming anxiety and
depression and revitalizing your
life."
Dr. Brown, thank you for joining
us.
We've known that the holidays
could be stressful for many, if
not all of us, but especially
for people with mental illness.
Why is that?
Dr. Brown: There are a lot of
factors at play.
We know how challenging and
stressful the gift receiving
process can be.
Some people are enduring
financial challenges over the
holidays, and as much as we
adore spending time with family
and friends, hosting them can
lead to an uptick in anxiety
levels for some of us.
Another idea supported by good
science is the fact that during
the winter months, we are
exposed to less sunlight.
It means melatonin, the hormone
produced in the brain, it is
produced earlier in the day, and
it might cause some of us to
feel more sluggish, tired and
depressed.
Judy: What does that mean in
terms of the symptoms that
people have?
How does somebody know that
these symptoms are there and are
coming on?
Dr. Brown: The symptoms of
depression would consist of
someone isolating more, if
they've noticed a change in
their appetite.
Sometimes people will eat too
little or overeat, if someone is
sleeping more than they normally
do, experiencing thoughts of
death or suicide, these are all
indicators someone may be
struggling with depression,
especially if the symptoms last
for two weeks.
Judy: Sometimes people can be
good at hiding their symptoms.
They can seem as if everything
is fine and may be working hard
to seem that everything is fine,
went underneath they are
troubled.
Dr. Brown: It is something we
are all thinking about right
now, especially in the aftermath
of the tragic death of Stephen
twitch boss.
Everyone said he seemed to be so
happy, and my message is that
there is no face to depression.
There is no one-way any mental
illness looks.
People who are suicidal, many
are able to get up and go to
work and smile and hide it quite
well.
It is so important that we ask
each other how we are doing it.
A text or a phone call this time
of year might seem like a small
gesture, but it can go a long
way.
Judy: Those are some things that
people may know, that a friend
or family member may be
susceptible to these dark
feelings.
What about for people themselves
who are feeling a particular
emotional stress, or maybe they
know they have a mental
diagnosis?
What should they be on the
lookout for?
Dr. Brown: Especially if you are
experiencing suicidal thoughts,
988 is a really great resource
that people should not feel
ashamed of taking advantage of.
The thing about it, if you are
meeting with a mental health
professional during the
holidays, it doesn't necessarily
mean you have to continue
meeting with a mental health
professional during the next two
years or three years.
Some people check in when they
are struggling.
Judy: Is it truly that easy to
find someone to talk to and
confide in if you are feeling
these dark feelings?
Dr. Brown: It is a process that
is worthwhile.
Sometimes it might take a couple
days to connect with someone.
Someone like me, I am accepting
new patients, and many others
are accepting new patients, too.
If you feel like you need a
professional to speak with,
don't be ashamed to pick up the
phone and make that effort.
Judy: We know these are things
that cut across people by age,
gender, race.
Dr. Brown: The suicide rate
among men is three or four times
the rate of suicide among women.
A lot of people think men don't
struggle with mental illness or
men are able to tough it out,
but the truth is there are over
130 suicides on average every
day in the United States, and
suicide and mental illness does
not discriminate against race or
gender.
Anyone is at risk, and it is why
we not only need to be thinking
about mental health, but talk
about it, as well.
Judy: Really important to
remember that this may be going
on with someone you know well
and someone you love.
Thank you so much, Dr. Gregory
Scott brown.
If you or a loved one is having
emotional distress or thoughts
of suicide, text or call the
national hotline.
It is "988" to connect with a
specialist for support.