Hear Bill's continued interview with Jeff Winton, Founder and CEO of the non-profit Rural Minds & Nikki Shaffer, Director of Occupational health and Wellness at Pfizer. It became obvious after the first segment that we had so much more to talk about in regards to mental health... so... we invited Jeff and Nikki back to share more information about how to recognize the signs of mental distress, how to best assist others, and perhaps even ourselves, as outside and perceived pressures seem to accelerate during the holiday season. One of the many takeaways from this discussion was the importance of seeking support from others. Encouraging individuals to reach out to friends, family members,and/or health professionals when stressful situations result in thoughts of suicide, or self harm. These feelings may be fleeting... or perhaps longer lasting...but help is always available. The new Suicide Hotline number is 988 and it will connect you to 24/7 assistance and support.

Other facts that Jeff and Nikkii shared with us are "triggers", sometimes associated with depression during the holiday season, and how to plan and cope with these seasonal occurrences. Effective measures of prioritizing self-care to control these feelings include getting enough sleep, engaging in regular physical exercise, practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation, and maintaining a healthy diet.

In an idealistic world, the holiday season is a time of joy, happiness, and harmonious family gatherings.

If someone is struggling during this time of year, we should encourage them to engage in healthy coping mechanisms, such as engaging in hobbies or activities they enjoy and just be there for them. One of the last topics we covered is the importance of pets in the equation. If you are reading this and you have a dog, cat, bird, or any other pet...you know exactly what we mean. There is something soothing about having a "pal" that loves you unconditionally:) Thank you once again, Jeff and Nikki for your incredible insight into a topic which is so important to us all.

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