The holidays can be an emotional time, and during this global pandemic, many people are feeling the blues more than ever. Depression and sadness heading into the New Year is very common and something experts with the Florida Mental Health Coalition are seeing firsthand. Dr. Sandra Castillo, a Licensed Psychologist has some actionable tips and advice.

One group hit hard by the pandemic is our elderly community. “It has been a difficult time for our aging population, some have not been able to see their loved ones for some time due to COVID-restrictions and the usual holidays and New Year celebrations have been cancelled or they simply feel it is not safe to attend,” says Dr. Castillo. She offers the following suggestions to help starting with maintaining a healthy balance throughout the day. Carve out a new self-care plan to promote positive health. This can be online fitness classes, getting out in the sunshine for a walk or scheduling zoom calls with family and friends. Social connections are extremely important so make that a priority. Family members should make sure they are checking in and using technology to stay connected with elderly loved ones.

The holiday stress can be doubled while trying to get everything done on top of dealing with COVID-19 restrictions. “Working from home, virtual schooling, changes in routine, all of these things add up to high stress and feeling extremely overwhelmed,” says Dr. Castillo. “Now is a good time to start a grateful journal or meditation practice to help stay in a positive mindset. If you are feeling down, there are lots of support groups or virtual therapists who can help guide you through this difficult time, don’t feel like you have to fix it all on your own.”

Children are also dealing with a number of emotions. Many kids have not been able to see their friends or are struggling with virtual schooling. The holidays are a time filled with traditions that kids look forward to, but many of those events have been drastically different or even cancelled. “This pandemic has been especially hard on children, who thrive on social interaction. Creating healthy and active routines at home is critical and recognizing your child’s feeling and fears related to COVID-19 is important,” says Dr. Castillo. “It might sound simple but getting time outside is so important for kids.  Remember to give them plenty of breaks from screen time and try to replace it with physical activity.”

No matter what your situation, it is always okay to reach out for help. The Florida Mental Health Coalition is here with resources to help the community year-round.