For many, the holiday season brings joy. The spirit of the season brings people together through gatherings with family and friends, gift giving, and the oh so anticipated beauty of a nice holiday feast. On the other hand, the pressure to deliver during the holidays -- to be ever present and make sure that those around us are enjoying themselves can bring unwanted stress into our lives.

Combining this with long winter nights can create a very trying time for those who suffer with mental illness. Where one sees the beauty of the city’s Christmas lights during a calm snowfall, another person may only see and hear the rush of traffic as they push to make it to their next destination, or they may spend all of their hours dwelling on whether or not their friends will enjoy the gifts that were purchase with the best of intentions. This stress can build and all but ruin what would otherwise be a wonderful time of year.

At the CMHA ANWR, we place utmost importance on helping maintain the health and wellness of people who want to understand and overcome mental illness. We wish to keep our promise during the winter months, by keeping up with the busy lifestyle of the city, and continuing to focus on those that need us the most. If you wish to help, you can do so by donating to our cause. It’s a gift that would not go unappreciated. After all, ‘tis the season!