When depression hits life is hell on earth but over the Christmas season it seems much worse.

The holidays can be stressful enough for most people but for people in crisis it is too much to bear. The feeling of despair can be quite overwhelming It is no good saying “things will pick up”, “life will be better tomorrow” – the nature of depression means that it is impossible to see through the darkness and choking fog to a brighter tomorrow.

The only message that can get through is to hang on: get through today and let tomorrow look after itself.

Do not set yourself ambitious targets – it may be the best you can do is to get out of bed before the afternoon and clean your teeth – that is an achievement.

Never beat yourself up over not getting more done or failing to be the life and soul of the party or wanting to be alone.

Depression is a serious illness like any other illness and no one would expect someone with double pneumonia to want to be out partying or cooking a 20lb turkey.

Every time the guilt gets overwhelming substitute in your mind the word pneumonia for depression and part of your mind will have a more realistic view of what you can achieve. Even more importantly persuade family members to make the substitute and ask themselves if they would ask someone who is suffering a serious physical illness to pull crackers, put on a funny hat and sit though a heavy lunch and laugh and joke.

It is a sad fact that suicide increases directly after the Christmas period with a peak in suicides on New Year’s Day.

Researchers say that high expectations for the new year, and a sense of anticlimax and despair when problems do not disappear overnight, increase the potential for stress and anxiety in the January “hangover period” after the celebrations.

Many people will feel without hope at the beginning of a new year and this can lead to suicidal thoughts and feelings of despair.

But throughout the holiday period and in fact 24/7 all year, there is help available to people in despair.

The Samaritans are always available and they are expecting a busy time – although they are urging people not to let their worries spiral out of control and to seek support for emotional distress this Christmas and during the coming year.

Samaritans carried out a recent survey which showed that nearly half the UK population has debt and money worries with almost a quarter of people describing 2009 as a bad year or their worst year ever.

The poll of more than 2,000 people asked the public to identify their five biggest worries over the past year. After money, other top-five sources of anxiety were problems in relationships with family and friends (reported by 35 per cent) and physical health concerns (32 per cent), followed by fears over job security (24 per cent) and workplace stress (24 per cent). Loneliness was one of the top worries amongst 21 per cent of young people aged between 18 and 24.

Samaritans’ Chief Executive Catherine Johnstone said: “If people don’t talk about their problems, they can build up over time and spiral into more serious emotional distress.

“Sharing your troubles can be a huge relief and is often the first step to finding a way of coping with the challenges that life throws at all of us.

“Samaritans’ trained volunteers are available 24/7 to offer confidential support to anyone feeling anxious, unhappy or distressed this Christmas and throughout the coming year.”

Contact Samaritans on 08457 909090 or by visit samaritans.org