The Gift of Gratitude: Nurturing Mental Wellness This Holiday Season

By Stephen M. Wright

The holidays can be a time of connection and joy—but for many, they also bring feelings of loneliness, loss, or stress. Practicing gratitude is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to support positive mental health during this season.

Gratefulness shifts focus from what is missing to what is meaningful: family, memories, and even small daily comforts. I submit to you that gratitude is not denial, it is perspective. Encouraging a thankful mindset fosters emotional resilience, lowers anxiety, and builds stronger bonds between all - especially caregivers, clients, and families.

We can model gratitude by listening with empathy, acknowledging each person’s story, and celebrating even the small or quiet victories. When gratitude becomes a shared practice, the holidays can transform from a source of stress into a season of healing, connection, mental renewal and resiliency.

— Stephen Wright, Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Advocate