Bermuda summers are often seen as the happiest time of year.
Beaches are full, boats are out, Cup Match events pack the calendar, and social media is filled with sunsets, happy hours and smiling faces.
But behind the curated images, mental health professionals say summer can also be a time for pressure, loneliness, burnout and anxiety.
Dr Shawnee Basden, consultant psychologist at Solstice, says one of the biggest reasons is expectation. “Bermuda summers are beautiful, but they’re not always easy,” she said.
“There’s a quiet pressure this time of year. The weather is perfect, the calendar fills quickly, and there’s an unspoken expectation that we should all be out enjoying it.”
While some people may feel excitement, others feel exhausted.
“One of the most common challenges is comparison,” Dr Basden said. “People see selected images of everyone else’s best moments and start to feel lonely, left out or like they’re somehow doing summer wrong.”
Summer can also strain finances and disrupt your routine, as you attend more events, stay up later and lose boundaries between work and personal life.
While some people struggle quietly, others are unsure if their concerns are serious enough to seek help.
Dr Brittnie Fowler, a consultant infant, child and youth psychiatrist, said: “If you find yourself wondering whether you need help, that curiosity is often your intuition telling you a second opinion could help.”
Dr Fowler believes mental health support should be preventative.
“We shouldn’t wait for a house fire to check the smoke detectors.”
Early warning signs include suddenly feeling exhausted from daily tasks, changes in sleep or appetite, withdrawing from loved ones, or reacting strongly to small frustrations.
For many people, the next challenge is knowing where to begin. Social worker Kelly Madeiros, the managing director of Solstice, said Bermuda has more support available than many realise.
“There are private therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, charities, family services and crisis supports,” she said.
“The issue is often not a lack of help, but uncertainty about where to start.”
She recommended taking small first steps.
“Sometimes simply browsing a website, reading about services, or sending one enquiry e-mail feels more manageable than committing to appointments straightaway.”
She also stressed that support is not only for emergencies. “Many people seek help for stress, burnout, relationship strain, life transitions or simply wanting to feel better. You do not need to be in crisis.”
For those not ready for professional support, there are still ways to ease difficult moments.
Dr Lizzy McManus, a senior psychologist, said action matters.
“Often the last thing we want to do when we feel low or overwhelmed is anything at all,” she said. “But getting moving, even in a very small way, is one of the most reliable ways to get unstuck.”
That could mean stepping outside, taking a walk, sending a text or changing your environment.
“If your system is activated, thinking your way out of it usually won’t work,” she said. “Slow breathing or grounding exercises can help bring things down.”
Perhaps the hardest part of struggling in summer is believing you are the only one.
Consultant psychologist Dr Laura Thomas said: “When we are vulnerable, we are much more likely to judge ourselves and compare ourselves negatively with others.”
Social media often makes this worse.
“People tend to publicise the positives and hide the struggles. That creates a false picture of perfection.” The reality is often very different.
“Many people who look fine are carrying private stress, grief, anxiety or exhaustion. Often, once someone speaks honestly, they realise others have felt the same.”
As Bermuda heads into another busy summer season, Solstice’s message is simple: sunshine doesn’t cancel struggle. It’s OK to say no to events and take time to rest – and if you need support, it’s also OK to ask for it.
For more mental health resources and support, visit www.solstice.bm or call 292-3456.
