The most “wonderful time of the year” is not so wonderful for many Minnesotans.
According to a survey from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 3 in 5 Americans say their mental health is negatively impacted by the holidays. The pressure for things to be “perfect,” financial strain, and reminders of loss can make this time of year incredibly difficult, challenging the myth that everyone is cheerful.
“We see a lot of grief and loss,” said Dr. Michael Thomas, behavioral health director at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, which serves North Minneapolis and surrounding communities. “Financial struggles, employment struggles, food insecurity, housing insecurity, these all get compounded when we’d like to think this should be the happiest time.”…