mental health around Christmas

Supporting employee wellbeing and workplace mental health this winter

Christmas is often portrayed as a time of joy connection and celebration. But for many people across the UK the festive season can intensify anxiety loneliness and emotional pressure. For employees already managing stress or mental health challenges the winter months can feel especially overwhelming.

Within the workplace this matters. Mental health at Christmas directly impacts focus productivity sickness absence and overall employee wellbeing. For HR teams and people leaders understanding winter wellbeing support is no longer optional it is essential.

📊 What the UK Data Shows About Mental Health at Christmas

National data highlights how common festive season stress really is.

Mental Health UK reports that 84 percent of people say the festive period is stressful or triggering and 77 percent say their mental health becomes worse at Christmashttps://www.openmentalhealth.org.uk/crisis-safe-space-at-christmas/

The Office for National Statistics found that around one in five adults report lower

wellbeing during winter months, often linked to financial pressure rising living costs and difficulty staying warmhttps://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/theimpactofwinterpressuresondifferentpopulationgroupsingreatbritain/18october2023to1january2024

According to the NHS Seasonal Affective Disorder is a recognised form of depression that typically occurs during autumn and winter when daylight hours are shorterhttps://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/overview/

UK Government research confirms a strong link between loneliness and poor mental health across all life stages, a challenge that often intensifies during Christmashttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-loneliness-the-relationship-across-life-stages/mental-health-and-loneliness-the-relationship-across-life-stages

A UK Parliament briefing on mental health shows increasing demand for mental health services, particularly during periods of heightened pressure such as winterhttps://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06988/SN06988.pdf

🧠 Why Christmas Can Be Difficult for Employees

While Christmas can be positive for some many employees face additional pressures that affect workplace mental health.

Financial stress linked to gifts travel and rising winter costs Pressure to appear happy and cope without support Loneliness especially for those living alone or away from family Reduced daylight impacting mood sleep and energy levels

These challenges do not stay outside of work. They directly affect employee mental health productivity engagement and absence rates making workplace mental health support a priority for HR teams.

🤝 Supporting Workplace Mental Health During the Festive Season

For HR professionals Christmas is a crucial moment to lead with compassion and proactive employee wellbeing strategies.

Effective workplace mental health support at Christmas includes

Encouraging open conversations about stress and winter wellbeing Normalising that not everyone finds Christmas easy Offering flexible working where possible Equipping managers to spot early signs of mental health strain Sharing trusted UK mental health resources from NHS and government sources

The Met Office also provides guidance on winter mental health and wellbeing including the importance of daylight routine and social connectionhttps://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/health-wellbeing/winter-and-mental-health

Strong HR employee wellbeing strategies during winter can reduce burnout support retention and build trust long beyond the festive period.

📱 How VÕS HELP Supports Employee Mental Health at Christmas

At VÕS HELP we understand that mental health challenges do not pause for Christmas.

Our HR focused mental health support app is designed to support employees exactly when they need it most especially during high pressure periods like the festive season.

VÕS HELP provides

Twenty four seven access to mental health support Confidential support for anxiety stress low mood and seasonal challenges Tools to help manage Seasonal Affective Disorder and winter wellbeing Immediate support without waiting lists or scheduling delays

For HR teams this means stronger workplace mental health support fewer crisis points and healthier more resilient employees throughout winter.

Your mental health matters too and support should never have to wait.

To find out how your team can flourish with the VÕS HELP HR support app contact us now.