Health: Practical steps to protect mental wellbeing during Christmas

The festive season can take a toll on mental health by forcing close contact with people who trigger anxiety or discomfort. In a December Health column, Dr. Max Pemberton describes how office parties, family dinners and reunions with people you rarely see can drain a person’s social energy and raise stress levels, often making the season feel less magical and more demanding.

First, accept you cannot change other people. "The only thing you can control is your response," he writes, noting that Auntie Margaret is unlikely to have an epiphany over the turkey. Second, prepare yourself mentally before these encounters by rehearsing how you want to respond to common triggers, and consider a bland, conversation-ending line such as, "Oh, everything’s ticking along fine. Now, have you tried the mince pies?" Third, give yourself permission to limit exposure; if an office party wears you down, you don’t have to stay until the end, and if a family gathering becomes unbearable, stepping outside or tending to a kitchen task is acceptable. Fourth, resist the urge to compare yourself to others; remember that the holiday highlight reel is not a full picture of anyone's life. Fifth, be strategic about where you invest emotional energy and, when necessary, use the grey rock technique: be pleasant but uninteresting, offer short answers, and avoid sharing personal information that could be used against you.

A patient of the doctor followed this approach and eventually found peace with her sister-in-law by adjusting expectations and responses rather than confronting her. The strategy did not require a dramatic confrontation; it involved setting boundaries, reducing exposure and prioritizing self-care, with restorative breaks after difficult gatherings.

In related health news, Davina McCall and her husband Michael Douglas quietly wed in a secret ceremony, a reminder of how public figures navigate private milestones. McCall has been open about personal health challenges over the years, including past addiction, a brain surgery, and a recent breast cancer diagnosis, illustrating how individuals balance personal health journeys with public visibility. The couple’s choice to keep the ceremony intimate underscores a broader theme in health reporting: protecting mental and emotional wellbeing can be compatible with sharing life moments on one’s own terms.

Separately, health-system leaders are under scrutiny as NHS leadership faces renewed questions about maternity care. Baroness Amos has said she found nothing prepared her for the level of unacceptable care she encountered in NHS maternity services. As interim findings are released ahead of a full review next spring, families affected by failings at Oxford University Hospitals and 11 other trusts are calling for concrete action rather than more talk. The public-health lens here is clear: patient safety and reliable care remain critical, especially in high-stress periods when families seek care and reassurance.

Beyond individual stories and policy reviews, researchers emphasize practical approaches to sustaining wellbeing during the holidays. Nostalgia, including revisiting films from childhood, has been shown to lift mood, increase social connectedness and provide comfort. Dr. Pemberton notes a personal favorite, The Muppet Christmas Carol, but invites readers to choose whichever film evokes warmth and connection. The underlying message is simple: while the season brings obligations, it can also offer opportunities to protect mental health through deliberate preparation, boundaries and self-compassion.

Overall, the holiday period presents a suite of health considerations that blend psychology, personal boundaries and health-system performance. By focusing on controllable factors—one’s own responses, planned interactions, and mindful pacing—people can navigate festive obligations without sacrificing wellbeing. As January approaches, a return to routine and healthier habits can help balance the emotional load of the season while acknowledging the real challenges that can arise during family and work gatherings.