While the holiday season is often thought of as a time where family and friends gather to share holiday cheer and happiness, this isn’t the reality for everyone, including our Nation’s Veterans.
For Veterans suffering from holiday loneliness, The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System is dedicated to helping combat this loneliness with tips for this holiday season.
“I find that the holidays are stressful for most everyone and that loneliness is a common experience,” said Jonathan Kessler, a Suicide Prevention & Community Engagement Partnership Coordinator at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System. “The staff at Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System and our community partners recognize this and offer support to our Veterans and their families. Fortunately, there are remedies to help with loneliness and isolation during the holidays that merely require some preparation.”
Tips for holiday loneliness:
- Reestablish or create new connections:
- Connect with other Veterans
- Host a virtual gathering
- Get out and about:
- Discover a purpose or mission-what brings you joy?
- Volunteer
- Plan for high and low energy activities
- Adjust holiday expectations:
- Be realistic and keep it simple
- Set boundaries
- Limit social media exposure
- Nurture an attitude of gratitude:
- Treat yourself with kindness and compassion
- Start or continue a gratitude journal
- Maintain healthy and nurturing habits:
- Keep healthcare appointments
- Seek help proactively
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System realizes that this holiday season may not be a time of joy and happiness for all Veterans but support those Veterans who may be struggling.
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System offers Behavioral Health, Whole Health, clinical Care Coordinators and offers free VA Mobile Apps (App Store | VA Mobile) to help Veterans throughout the year and especially during a Veteran’s time of need. VA also offers a 24/7 Veteran Crisis Line that can be utilized by simply calling 988 and then dialing 1, with both text and chat options also available.
