Mental health charity says Christmas is busiest time of year

A spokesperson for one of Ireland's most well-known mental health charities said Christmas is the busiest time of the year for the organisation.

Turn2Me Turn2Me, a national mental health charity, has announced a series of free online support groups running throughout the Christmas and New Year period, including on Christmas Day.

The charity stated that Christmas is consistently its busiest time of year, with a significant increase in people seeking mental health support due to loneliness, family conflict, bereavement, financial pressure, and heightened emotional stress.

To meet this seasonal surge in demand, Turn2Me will host daily themed support groups at midday from Christmas Day, December 25, until January 1, 2026, ensuring people across Ireland have continuous access to professional, compassionate mental health support.

The Christmas Support Group schedule, with sessions all taking place at midday, will be comprised of: Christmas Day, December 25 - Christmas Blues; St Stephen's Day, December 26 - Family issues; December 27 - Bereavement; December 28 - Family issues; December 29 - Bereavement; December 30 - How to Manage Anxiety; New Year's Eve, December 31 - Feeling Alone; New Year's Day - January 1 - Feeling Down.

All of the sessions are free of charge, confidential and run by mental health professionals.

Commenting ahead of the sessions, Fiona O’Malley, CEO of Turn2Me, said: "The organisation prepares every year for a substantial increase in service usage during December and early January."

“Christmas can be an incredibly difficult time for many people," she said.

"While it’s often portrayed as joyful and carefree, the reality is that it’s one of the toughest periods for those experiencing loneliness, grief, family conflict, or financial strain," she added.

"We want people to know that they’re not alone, and that Turn2Me will be here for them every single day of the festive season, including Christmas Day."

In addition to support groups, Turn2Me continues to offer up to six, free one-to-one counselling sessions for adults living in Ireland, along with its free meditation programme, and a free ‘Thought Catcher’ online mood diary service.

“Our goal is to make mental health support accessible, immediate, and stigma-free," said Ms O'Malley.

"Christmas can intensify emotions, and reaching out for help is a sign of strength," she added.

"Whether someone is struggling with grief, feeling overwhelmed by family pressures, or simply feeling low, we encourage them to join our support groups or access our counselling services.”

Turn2Me’s services are available nationwide at www.turn2me.ie