Beating loneliness
Christmas can be a tough time of the year for many, especially those who don’t have people to spend the time with.
Research has shown that older people are usually more likely to face a lonely Christmas, with more than 500,000 people aged over 65 expected to experience loneliness during the festive period.
But figures from MIND have shown that millennials – those aged between 25 and 34 – are twice as likely as the elderly to have a lonely Christmas.
For people who have no one to talk to or open up to, it can be a tough and lonely time at this time of year.
James Downie hopes to be able to combat loneliness and mental wellbeing through his online community.
After battling his own mental health, Lanarkshire man James started an online support group, MYnd Over Matter.
He started the group last year and now has a community of around 12,000 on Facebook and Instagram.
James told the Wishaw Press: “Through my own battles with mental health I decided to start a platform to let people talk and open up about their mental health.
“I always talk about MYnd Over Matter as being a mental wealth platform. I feel that through learning about your own mental health and trying to better yourself you gain a wealth of knowledge.
“That is what I try and promote through my speeches and Facebook lives, growing your own mental wealth to help you get better.
“When it comes around to this time of year, not everyone is as fortunate as others when it comes to having people around to support them.
“But I encourage people who need people to talk to come to our community where they can meet like-minded individuals who may also feel how they are feeling.
“MYnd Over Matter is a community of over 4000 on Facebook and 8000 on Instagram so you will never feel alone when talking about your mental health there.
“It is really important to talk about how you feel and for those who don’t have anyone, they are welcomed into our community.”