This is the season for celebration and good cheer. However, for many Michiganders, the absence of a loved one — whether through death, divorce, or another painful separation — can make this time of year feel almost unbearable.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 64% of people with depression report the holidays just make them feel worse.

Corewell Health psychiatrist Dr. Ibrahim Sablaban says sadness is one of the most universal human emotions, and it should be embraced.

“The worst thing somebody can do is really try to suppress feeling human, really suppress feeling lonely, feeling sad, feeling a sense of loss,” Sablaban said. “It’s very easy to say, ‘Oh, I need to get my mind off of so-and-so who passed away,’ but that’s not the healthy way forward.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health crisis, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It can connect you with someone for free and confidential support.