Especially at Christmas, loneliness catches up with some – or family disputes escalate. Help is also available here on the holidays.
Munich (dpa / lby) – Christmas, the celebration of family and love – but some remain lonely on Christmas Eve or get into a crisis for other reasons. People in mental emergencies or with mental illnesses in Bavaria could also contact the crisis services around the clock on public holidays, said Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU).
“A crisis doesn’t stick to office opening hours. Mental crises are existential emergencies. People need immediate support if they need it. And that’s what the crisis services do, who provide competent help with great commitment in control centers and mobile teams – even on the holidays.”
Holetschek also promoted an open approach to mental illness at the family festival. “Stigmatization is extremely damaging to those affected and their families. A mental crisis can affect anyone.” Anyone who needs help should not be afraid to seek it. The crisis services can also be contacted by relatives, caregivers and other people from the environment of those affected.
Social Affairs Minister Ulrike Scharf (CSU) referred to the women’s aid system, which is also available anonymously and free of charge around the clock over the holidays. Both the police and women’s workers have seen an increase in domestic violence just around the holiday season every year. Mostly women are affected. “Violence in the family is not a private matter, it is a criminal offence. Get help if you are affected by violence. You are not alone.”
Volunteers also work around the clock for the telephone counseling of the Protestant and Catholic Churches on public holidays, as always.
