CHRISTMAS is often a time to get together with loved ones, sharing gifts, and enjoying nice food and quality time.

But for some people Christmas can be a difficult time and they might need additional support to help them to cope.

NHS 24’s Breathing Space service is available over the festive period and as one of its advisors I can tell you what it is like to work in this vital service over the Festive period:

Being a Breathing Space Advisor is a really satisfying job, even though it can be challenging. People call us with a variety of problems; loneliness, needing to vent, or specific mental health issues that they want to speak about with someone who can listen with empathy. Christmas can be a difficult time for a lot of people, so confidential support over this period is crucial.

Sometimes callers contact us on a regular basis while they are going through particularly difficult times – we get to know them well and hopefully help them get through things with a listening ear and offer some advice on other organisations they can use. A lot of people can suffer a multitude of emotions that might be difficult for them to express, especially when they have no one they can confide in. That's what we are there for.

I've worked every Christmas since being at Breathing Space – we often receive difficult calls but luckily our team are very supportive of each other. A lot of callers are surprised we're open throughout the festive period, but it's a really rewarding thing to help people during this time.

Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone service available to anyone across Scotland over the age of 16 years. Advisors can listen, offer advice and signpost callers onto help in their local area. Call advisors are available 6pm – 2am (Monday – Thursday) and 24 hours at weekends (Friday 6pm –Monday 6am) on freephone 0800 83 85 87. www.breathingspace.scot

LINDA MARTIN