Christmas with all its lights, magic and glamour can be a wonderful time of year, generating a sense of positivity, optimism and connection to others.
But the holiday season can also pose a myriad of challenges to people’s mental health. It might be the financial stress of paying for a Christmas that we feel others around us expect, or the feelings of social isolation and loneliness coupled with the bleakest and darkest weather time of the year. Expectations can run high and it’s easy to assume from our social media feeds that everyone else is having an incredibly fabulous time. So, we question, why isn’t Christmas like that for me?
Christmas can be harder still for people dealing with grief or mental health conditions, as well as for jobseekers who may be struggling financially and battling to find employment or people who feel that their job and income is in jeopardy because of struggles they are facing at work or with their health and in their daily lives.
At The BUSY Group we understand these challenges very well. A part of The BUSY Group, CASE-UK and Health2Employment (H2E) provide employability, wellbeing and clinical support services all year round for people with a range of mental health conditions in and out of work. We also work directly with employers through our Occupational Health services to help people stay well and be productive at work.
A not-for-profit, community-focussed organisation, The BUSY Group offers a personalised, specialist approach to health, wellbeing and success at work for all our customers. That’s why we are so pleased to see the same holistic approach being championed in the Government’s recently published Get Britain Working White Paper, with its vision of better integrated health and employment support, and a stronger focus on prevention and early intervention.
Going forward into next year, our Government’s White Paper makes it clear that support for people both in and out of the workplace needs to be delivered by agencies that are trusted by partners in local communities, offering strong relationships with employers and access to an integrated health offer. The BUSY Group’s approach embodies each of these qualities, and that’s why we are optimistic about the changes the new year will bring and why we are committed to working positively with partners and commissioners on the opportunities being signalled by the White Paper.
Whether your own holiday period promises to be a busy whirl of family, friends and gatherings or will be a quieter and more reflective time, the BUSY Group wishes you a Merry Christmas! We also look forward to collaborating with others who share our vision to change lives, build futures and support communities in 2025.
Interested in Partnering with The BUSY Group?
If your organisation is interested in partnering with us, contact us at partnerships@thebusygroup.org.uk