Created: Dec 12, 2025 08:19 AM<\/p>\n
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Be your neighbour\u2019s keeper: Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, sounds a note of caution (File photograph by Blaire Simmons)<\/p>\n
Details on the core benefits proposed for universal healthcare are expected to emerge next year \u2014 with mental health benefits guaranteed to be included.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, with the build-up to Christmas in full swing, Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, said: \u201cThe holiday season approaching can have a mixture of joy and challenges, whether it is the overwhelming schedules, financial strain or unrealistic expectation.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome families will be having their first Christmas dinner in the absence of loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Wilson cautioned residents to stay vigilant, not only of their own health but to keep an extra eye on others who may be emotionally vulnerable at a time associated with togetherness.<\/p>\n
A mental health pop-up is to be included at the Court Street Market planned for Sunday, while the Government\u2019s CITV channel is to highlight mental health on Monday.<\/p>\n
Ms Wilson explained: \u201cThere can be an emotional mixture of joy on one hand and heaviness on the other, and that\u2019s why we must openly speak about it, especially during the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it came to the financial toll of spending on gifts, she added: \u201cIt\u2019s probably more important to be present rather than to buy a present.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile holidays are a time of strength and bonding with family and loved ones, the key message is to be present, patient and kind. Small gestures, a listening ear and quiet moments can make a big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
With alcohol often associated with Christmas socialising, she implored the public to refrain from \u201cdangerous driving and driving under the influence\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m urging everyone to make safe choices so that the holiday season is remembered for joy and not tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cI am encouraging everyone to prioritise their mental wellbeing \u2014 set realistic budgets, stay connected, check in on loved ones and take small steps to care for yourself.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government remains committed to supporting mental wellness through community partnerships and accessible services.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Wilson said that the extra $2.29 million added last year to the ministry\u2019s budget to bolster mental health services was not exclusive to 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat money is going to continue to ensure we provide access to mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said programmes such as Mental Health Month in May were showing results.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom that point moving forward, we have done a number of initiatives, from social-media campaigns to town halls, to continue the dialogue to start breaking down the walls of stigma.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are talking about it more. People are openly sharing their stories about their own mental wellness.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cI think it\u2019s just the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said a raft of organisations got community grants in the 2024-25 fiscal year, with groups offering counselling including the Women\u2019s Resource Centre on 295-3882, Age Concern on 238-7525, Family Centre on 232-1116 and Masc on 601-6272.<\/p>\n
While mental health treatment is shifting to a great emphasis on community care, Ms Wilson emphasised: \u201cThe Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute still provides crisis intervention for acute mental health challenges, and their hotline is 239-1111 for 24-hour crisis support.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Created: Dec 12, 2025 08:19 AM Be your neighbour\u2019s keeper: Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, sounds a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":345399,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[6931,97,46311,259,2598,260],"class_list":{"0":"post-345398","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-christmas","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-kim-wilson","11":"tag-mental-health","12":"tag-mental-illness","13":"tag-mentalhealth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=345398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345398\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/345399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=345398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=345398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=345398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}