Christmas is said to be the most wonderful time of the year, but for some it can be incredibly difficult.
It's a time of year that often puts extra pressure on us, and can affect our mental health in lots of different ways.
If Christmas is a hard time for you, it's important to remember that you are not alone.
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The mental health charity Mind offers some tips for looking after yourself over the festive period.
These include - but are not limited to - being patient and gentle with yourself, planning ahead, and talking to other people about what you are experiencing and how you are feeling.
The charity also has an online community, where you can listen, share and be heard, and it's accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you're struggling this Christmas, you may want to find support for your mental health.
There are a few ways that you can do this:
- Call Samaritans on 116 123 (freephone). They're always open
- Text SHOUT to 85258. This is a free 24/7 crisis text service run by Shout
- Visit Mind's useful contacts page for a list of organisations who can support your mental health or help with practical problems
If you find you are in a mental health crisis, urgent medical help is available. Please:
- call 999 for an ambulance
- go straight to A&E, if you can
- or call your local crisis team, if you have their number
If you can't do this by yourself, ask someone to help you.
Mental health emergencies are serious. You're not wasting anyone's time.
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