Citizens Commission on Human Rights reminds that science-backed lifestyle changes now can be effective in supporting good mental health during the upcoming holiday season, which can be emotionally challenging for many.
-- The year-end holidays can be emotionally challenging for those missing loved ones or feeling overwhelmed with holiday activities. The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) points to research indicating a number of lifestyle basics are associated with mental health benefits. The time to ensure that these basics are in place is now, ahead of the approaching holiday season.
Spending time with trusted friends or caring family members or engaging in other supportive social contact helps to lower the risk of depression, studies have found. The growing trend among physicians of “social prescribing” – advising patients to engage in activities they enjoy that involve interaction with others – addresses the mental health risks of social isolation.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General of the United States, explored social isolation as a public health concern because of its role as a root cause of, and contributor to, many physical and mental health problems, including depression. His conclusion: “We have evolved to participate in community, to forge lasting bonds with others, to help one another, and to share life experiences.We are, simply, better together.”
If regular exercise is not part of a daily routine, adding it ahead of the holidays may bring mental health benefits in addition to physical improvement. Research has found that even relatively small doses of physical activity, like walking two to three hours a week, have been associated with a lower risk of depression. Medical professionals may even prescribe exercise to patients, after research suggested it is an evidence-based treatment option.
Getting enough sleep, even during the busy holiday season, is important for lowering the risk of depression and anxiety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that failure to get adequate sleep, defined as 7 or more hours per night, is associated with a greater risk of mental health problems.
Consuming a healthy diet, especially one free from ultra-processed food, has been associated with a lower risk of depression symptoms. Families eating those healthy meals at home together at least several times per week get additional mental health benefit, especially for children.
The holidays are a great time to engage with others in meaningful activities and to spend less time on social media, which research suggests also supports good mental health.
Putting these lifestyle factors in place now can help people deal with any mental health challenges ahead and lead to greater enjoyment of the upcoming holiday season.
"CCHR is offering these science-backed recommendations for good mental health as part of its outreach to help people make informed decisions about their mental health," added Anne Goedeke, Executive Director of the CCHR National Affairs Office.
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights was co-founded in 1969 by members of the Church of Scientology and the late psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry Thomas Szasz, M.D., to eradicate abuses and restore human rights and dignity to the field of mental health.
Contact Info:
Name: Anne Goedeke
Email: Send Email
Organization: Citizens Commission on Human Rights, National Affairs Office
Address: Washington, DC
Website: http://www.cchrnational.org
Release ID: 89208526
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