Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The holiday season isn't always merry and bright for everyone in Western New York. Some deal with depression, and other mental health issues, and advocates say it's OK not to be OK.
Sheila Hunt with OLV Human Services says some deal with depression, especially when it comes to economic issues.
"They also have added stress and anxiety over not being able to give their kids the gift they need or deserve, because they're still worried about how they're going to pay their monthly utility bills, how they're going to pay their rent," said Hunt in an interview with WBEN.
OLV Human Services has generous donors who provide gifts, and can take some of the pressure and the stress off of the family.
Hunt says loneliness is very common this time of year, and it has become worse since the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We have mental health counselors who do a tremendous job of trying to make sure that families that are alone, that have no one, they are trying to get them out in the community, just checking in on them, Doing welfare checks on them, because being lonely does add to that extra depression," Hunt added.
If anyone see a red flag with someone they know, Hunt says OLV Human Services is always a phone call away.
"We have open access where we can provide telehealth sessions rather than we can go out and provide the telehealth if they are not willing to come outside of the home. But Crisis Services is also a way to reach out," she said.
Hunt adds 9-8-8 is also available in case someone is thinking about dying by suicide.
Nick Revelas of the Revelas Family Foundation says for young adults, this time of year can be very tough.
"Obviously, there's a lot going on with the holidays, and it's especially with the relationships with family and friends. It's very difficult," said Revelas, who is organizing a Not So Silent Night event at the Statler downtown Friday. "The reason why we started these events seven years ago, when I was a senior in high school, we cost a close friend of mine, Devin Waring, to suicide."
The event is not just about raising money and awareness of mental health issues.
"We also start those conversations about mental health, and that's OK to not be OK. Our goal with the event has always been, we want people to know you can be the light in a dark world, and it's the littlest gestures, especially this time of year, when so many are struggling to let people know that there are people out there listening and there's people that care," Revelas added with WBEN.