This is my final column before Christmas and what a year it has been. Many of us will be looking forward to Christmas this week, even if it is not going to look like the ones we have had before.

And whilst some of us revel in the hustle and bustle of this time of year, for others this time of year is difficult.

There are many reasons why the festive season can cause stress, anxiety and depression. Too high expectations placed on ourselves – have I got the right presents? Will the turkey cook in time? Will the relatives get on and have we got enough of everything?

Or maybe there is nobody to share the joy of Christmas with, which is likely for many people across the country given the on-going Covid pandemic.

Loneliness is not uncommon and the feeling of isolation might be felt even stronger than usual this week. As adverts on telly flood our front rooms with idyllic festive scenes and friends and family coming together, dressed in finery, enjoying gorgeous food and drink – if you’re on your own that could be tough to handle.

And then there are the daily life things that carry on. This coming year will no doubt bring with it many challenges and some might be feeling more anxious than hopeful about the year ahead. What will the weather do? Will my herd pass the bovine TB test? And where is my export market if we crash out of the EU with no deal? How much longer is the pandemic going to affect our day-today lives?

These could be just some of the questions on your mind, and may possibly just be the tip of the iceberg. For many farmers, rural businesses and families having a chat about being stressed and what to do and where to go for help sits perhaps below the to-do list of a busy schedule.

And that’s exactly why I want to remind you that it is important to look after your mental health. If we don’t talk to each other, we can’t support one another and then we end up with problems.

One in four people will suffer from mental health problems in their lifetime, and this time of year can certainly act as a catalyst and exasperate underlying problems. It is not an uncommon illness and one which we need to work together to tackle.

As a community and through talking to each other we can reduce the stress and strains that come from poor mental health and anxiety. We can become a better-supported industry that talks about issues that are affecting the here and now.

With that in mind, I strongly encourage anyone who is worried about their own mental health or a loved one, to seek help from the Farming Community Network, Tir Dewi, The DPJ Foundation, Mind Cymru or The Samaritans.

On a final note, I do hope that this Christmas is a merry one for you, but please remember that if it all gets too much - there are people who can help. Even on Christmas day.