Festival depression: The fear of missing out ‘real’ celebrations

Mental health issues peak during the festival season, and it happens all over the country. Diwali is the biggest depression season here, though other festivals all have their fair share. It’s remarkably high among teens and young adults. Here’s what you need to know about it as a parent.  

Why do youngsters get depressed during festivals?  
Older people have a different set of reasons for festival depression. We are going to look at what ails the younger lot today.  

Social media and FOMO: Excessive social media connectivity adversely affects many teens and young adults. Facebook and Instagram are flooded with posts about how everyone is having a great time. This creates a huge Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). Teens especially start missing parties, dressing up and celebrations with friends.   

The virtual world seems to be a prison: This was a problem earlier, and is almost a disease since the lockdowns started. Enjoying celebrations with family and nearby friends seem too drab compared to the grander scale earlier, and students want to meet everyone in class suddenly, even if they haven’t seen each other regularly since 2020.   
 
Death and disease: The absence of a dead relative or friend gets magnified during festivals, and considerably affects mental health for the survivors. Remembering the death of a loved one or being sick during the festival are obvious causes of depression.  

Media coverage and memories: All of us have memories of festivals growing up. These are augmented by supporting media coverage. When a 16 year old sees people shopping recklessly in crowded malls on TV, and remembers her own happy shopping sprees, she is going to get depressed.  

How to combat festival depression?  
As a parent, start by explaining the spirit of the festival. Crowds, firecrackers, food and shopping do not make a festival. They can still uphold the real spirit by quality time with loved ones, decorating the house, and helping the needy in the neighbourhood. Ensure your kid eats nutritious foods and gets enough sleep, and reduce screen time, especially constant news coverage of festivals from a consumer’s angle. Fix up your own festival plan and give your kids more time.