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The holiday season isn't so happy for everyone
BECK ROBERTSON looks at how poverty has exacerbated the incidence and seriousness of mental health issues in the population

MANY of us enjoy the holiday festivities, but for some, this time of year only brings extra stress, exacerbating problems like depression.

For those living in poverty, the pressure can be especially intense, especially for families who endure a daily struggle to put food on the table, as well as those who are already marginalised.

According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 7.8 per cent of people in Britain currently meet the criteria for an official medical diagnosis of anxiety and depression, while 4-10 per cent of people in England will experience a depressive episode at least once in their lifetime.

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