A mental health charity has launched a survival guide for people facing a blue Christmas.
Plus Perth is distributing thousands of helpful wallet-sized leaflets to residents and businesses around the Fair City.
The aim is to help people get through the sometimes overwhelming festive season.
The pocket guides include useful crisis contact numbers and a list of the “12 Do’s of Christmas” including “hold onto your sense of humour” and “remember things change”.
Susan Scott, development management at Plus Perth, said: “It may sound strange to talk about surviving Christmas, but there are too many examples out there to show how the festive season can be a very difficult time for people.
“For example, domestic abuse levels soar, relationship difficulties can come to a head and people who are bereaved at Christmas will dread this time of year.”
She said loneliness was another sad reality for a lot of people all year round and the closure and reduction in health and social care services and projects over the festive season could make matters worse.
“People are left feeling purposeless and increasingly isolated at a time when they are supposed to be having fun,” she added.
“We know, listening to many of our members, that Christmas is a difficult time of year, so having information to hand on what you can do to help yourself is a good place to start.”
More than 3,000 of the guides have already been handed out, with a further 1,000 ready to go. The project was paid for through Choose Life funding, backed by Perth and Kinross Council.
“We get excellent feedback about the card which we are really glad about,” added Susan.
“It seems to be a good help during a stressful time of year.”
Other suggestions for a happier festive season include planning ahead, sharing your worries about Christmas and “celebrate the season with forgiveness”.
The guide advises readers: “Don’t take it all too seriously, loosen up and enjoy the wellbeing effects that lots of laughter brings.”
Lifeline services listed on the fold-out leaflet include the Samaritans, who can be reached on 116 123.
