WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The American Psychological Association says the holiday season significantly impacts mental health, with studies showing high stress levels, increased anxiety, and depression.

Rachel Baker, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at UPMC's Western Behavioral Health in Williamsport, says there are many factors as to why people get feelings of depression and sadness during the holiday and winter seasons. She says social stressors, psychological issues, and biological factors all contribute.

"There's a lot of pressure with winter months, you have the holidays, so there's financial stress that adds up quickly, you isolate more. Shorter days, winter months, you're stuck inside, it kind of takes us back to COVID times where we can't get out as much, we can't interact as much as w

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