The holidays are a time of parties, reunions, and celebrations, but for some, it is a time of loneliness, stress, and anxiety.
"Not everyone feels the joy, love and spirit of Christmas," said Reverend Ron Dunn, the executive director of the Downtown Mission in Windsor. "The next several weeks can be very hard and depressing for some people."
Dunn reminds the public there is help, including at the Downtown Mission.
The causes of anxiety and depression during the holiday season are many and can be as individual as the person suffering from it. For some, it is the social isolation. For others, it can be the loss of a loved one, seasonal patterns, or financial problems.
"If anyone is having a crisis, we want them to call the Distress Centre and get the assistance they need," continued Dunn.
The Distress Centre Program provides support to people of all walks of life who are experiencing a crisis. It is open seven days a week from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. at 519-256-5000.
About 70 volunteers staff the centre, and it receives about 2,500 calls a year from those who need support, information about services in the area, crisis counselling, or just an empathetic ear.
There is also a text service for those uncomfortable speaking over the phone. It is available from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. at 258258.
More assistance can be found on the Downtown Mission's website.
