On This Day
Taking Stock of the Season’s Perils
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Though celebrated in song as “the most wonderful time of the year,” the holiday season is also a time of depression and high mortality rates—yet it is not as bad as some seem to believe.
30-Second Summary
Studies have shown that the number of deaths attributed to heart attacks and alcohol-impaired driving increases around the holidays. These two dangers are covered separately this December by Fox News affiliate WGHP and the Associated Press.
This year, mortgage and other economic concerns have also made buying gifts and expensive festivities more stressful for many.
Given the abundance of risks and bad news, along with the proverbial “holiday blues,” it is somewhat surprising that an Oxford University study has found that people are more likely to attempt suicide during spring and summer, not around the holidays as many people imagine.
And for those who are battling the blues, companies often offer employees free, anonymous counseling.
There are also dozens of sites on the Web that try to explain the causes of depressive episodes this time of year and offer tips for dealing with the holidays. Among the top tips: Be realistic in setting goals.
No matter how stressful the holidays seem, remember that it could be worse. For example, according to Slate, between Dec. 4 to Dec. 20, President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush are having 26 parties at the White House for nearly 10,000 people.
This year, mortgage and other economic concerns have also made buying gifts and expensive festivities more stressful for many.
Given the abundance of risks and bad news, along with the proverbial “holiday blues,” it is somewhat surprising that an Oxford University study has found that people are more likely to attempt suicide during spring and summer, not around the holidays as many people imagine.
And for those who are battling the blues, companies often offer employees free, anonymous counseling.
There are also dozens of sites on the Web that try to explain the causes of depressive episodes this time of year and offer tips for dealing with the holidays. Among the top tips: Be realistic in setting goals.
No matter how stressful the holidays seem, remember that it could be worse. For example, according to Slate, between Dec. 4 to Dec. 20, President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush are having 26 parties at the White House for nearly 10,000 people.
Headline Links: The holiday woes
Financial difficulties
Some in Michigan are having an especially difficult time this year. The state’s economy is suffering, and making ends meet is hard enough without spending extra on gifts, according to a Detroit Free-Press editorial. Approximately 21 percent more Michigan household incomes are below the poverty line than in 2001, according to a study titled “Michigan’s Changing Face of Poverty.”
Source: The Detroit Free-Press
Heart strain
The incidence of heart attacks goes up in the winter, and one health official blames the holidays. Renato Santos of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center said heart attack deaths rise by about 5 or 6 percent throughout the country this time of year. “People tend to delay seeking medical attention over the holidays,” Santos told WGHP Fox 8 News. Eating too much fatty foods and drinking too much alcohol doesn’t help, either, Santos said. Nor do holiday crowds, shopping, decorating and cold weather. All those stress factors could weaken the immune system, according to WGHP.
Source: WGHP Fox 8 News, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Drunk driving
Despite all of the safe driver and free taxi programs on New Year’s Eve, more people die from drunk driving between Christmas and New Year's than the rest of the year, the Associated Press reports. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics suggest that out of ten traffic deaths between Christmas and New Year’s four can be attributed to drunk driving. The rest of the year, alcohol is involved in three in ten traffic fatalities.
Source: Associated Press
Holiday blues
Depression impacts all areas of a person’s life, and even though the “the holiday blues” are only temporary, they can still take a toll at work, MSNBC reports. Many companies offer anonymous counseling programs, but 40 percent of employees weren’t aware of that, according to Meritain Health and the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health, which commissioned a survey into the issue. This year, though, credit card and sub-prime mortgage stress have led more people to seek assistance, according to Rich Chaifetz, the head of EAP provider ComPsych.
Source: MSNBC
Reference Material: Seasonal suicide and dealing with the holiday blues
Contrary to popular belief, holiday stress doesn’t lead to people attempting suicide more than at other times of the year. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a CNN correspondent, reports that suicide and suicide attempts do fluctuate according to the season, but not in the way most people expect. Spring and summer are the seasons when people are more likely to think of ending it all, Oxford University researchers found.
Source: CNN
Cope with holiday stress by setting realistic goals and expectations, MedicineNet.com suggests. Alcohol is a depressant, so don’t drink too much. Creating to-do lists and delegating tasks also help people feel less overwhelmed, according to the online article. Volunteering to help others can also make lonely people feel better.
Source: MedicineNet.com
Related Topics: Busy season at the White House
Those who think their holiday season is difficult to manage might consider this: the president and first lady are hosting 26 parties in 16 days this December. Parties include a Hanukkah celebration and holiday parties for high-ranking military officials, Secret Service and Congress. This year’s holiday theme is “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” First Lady Jackie Kennedy started the holiday theme tradition. The last holiday party of the year is for those who run the White House, including electricians, cooks and plumbers. Some of the White House’s decorations are on display in a short video featuring Barney and Miss Beazley, the president’s dogs.
Source: Slate
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