Mental Health Experts Offer Advice For Holidays

Channel 5 News NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - State mental health officials said the 2009 holiday season will be especially taxing on the emotional needs of Tennesseans because of the decline in the economy. Virginia Trotter Betts, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, urged Tennesseans to set a budget and choose only gifts within one's means. In a news release, she said, "The gift of yourself and spending time with others is really what is meaningful for all." Betts said the "holiday blues" usually disappear after Jan. 1, but encouraged Tennesseans to consult a mental health expert or agency if depression persists. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)