One in five young people would be relieved if Christmas was cancelled, a survey has found.
More than 500 young people responded to a survey by the national youth mental health foundation Headspace.
Many said the Christmas and New Year period heralds a time of increased depression, loneliness and family tension.
One-third said Christmas made them feel worse than usual, while one in five said they would be relieved if the holiday was cancelled.
People aged 18 to 25 were more likely to have a negative view of Christmas, with 40 per cent saying it decreased their happiness.
About 20 per cent of those under 18 had the same view.
Almost 60 per cent of young people said tensions between family members was behind their negative feelings about Christmas, while more than half cited financial pressures.
Headspace CEO Chris Tanti said that while Christmas should be a time for families to come together and enjoy the festive spirit, this was not always the case for some young people.
"Christmas is a time for giving and receiving presents, but parents should also take the opportunity to exchange the gift of meaningful conversation with their child and see how they are coping."
Front page
RSS Feed