Multimedia By: Mahad Arale, Dante Galea, and Brandon Patram
Story By: Isabella Lopes and Mariam Baher
90 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 24 said they feel excessively stressed around the winter
holidays, according to a survey conducted by Sun Life Financial Canada.
“Final assignments and Christmas and just the weather. The weather change makes people kind of anxious and depressed,” said Beverly Petrovic, Student Affairs Coordinator at Ryerson School of Journalism.
A study done by the Mental Health Academy showed students are more likely to seek counselling around the holidays. “This is a peak time,” Petrovic said. According to Canada Health, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is the most common type of depression among students, affecting up to 13 per cent of Canadians in post-secondary, and three per cent of Canadians nationwide.
A survey conducted by the Canadian Association of University Student Services (CAUSS), showed that 89 per cent of post-secondary students feel especially overwhelmed around the winter break.
The biggest factor of holiday stress was lack of money.
First-year Ryerson student Kieralea Dominelli says the holiday season is “too stressful.” (Isabella Lopes/RSJ)
“We have year end quotas to meet and I work in sales … work and exams are making it too stressful,” said Kieralea Dominelli, a first-year politics and governance student at Ryerson.
“In the holidays we’re supposed to be having fun … I’m so stressed out I don’t even have time to shower. It’s not a good mix,” Dominelli said.
A census done by Statistics Canada showed the average annual income for Canadians aged 16 to 24 is $11,900, while tuition in Canada on average costs $6,571 per year.
Andreia Costa, first-year Humber student, feels especially stressed around Christmas. (Isabella Lopes/RSJ)
“I work two jobs, I pay my car and insurance. I have no money at Christmas,” said Andreia Costa, a first-year pre-health sciences student at Humber.
“I want to get everyone nice gifts but I can’t even afford my tuition and car payments so I always struggle. It’s my stress season,” Costa said.
Beverly Petrovic, Student Affairs Coordinator at Ryerson University, urges students to reach out when they are stressed. (Isabella Lopes/RSJ)
Healthy coping mechanisms are especially important this time of year. “Take a moment to sit there and kind of centre yourself again and once again breathe,” Petrovic said.
87 per cent of the CAUSS survey respondents said they were exhausted and 10 per cent said they seriously considered suicide.
Students are encouraged to seek help and speak out about stress.
“Go to the counselling centre, medical centre, they can call to good to talk. There’s lots of resources around,” Petrovic said.
Addiction and Mental Health Lifeline: Connex Ontario provides free and confidential health services information for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness of gambling. Call at any time of day or night at 1-866-531-2600 or chat online at connexontario.ca
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