Holidays are joyful times of festive celebrations with family and friends. The holidays can also be a time filled with mem- ories that may cause you to be sad, thinking about loved ones no longer in your life. If you feel the holidays bearing down on you, you need to plan. Here are ten steps to help during the holidays offered to you by the International Association of Machinists Employee Assistance Program.

The heart and soul of the District 141 Employee Assistance Program is the local lodge EAP peer coordinator. These dedicated men and women volunteer their personal time to assist other union members and their families who are experiencing personal difficulties. EAP peer coordinators do not make clinical diagnoses or clinical evaluations, however, they are trained to make a basic assessment of your situation and refer you to an appropriate resource for a more detailed evaluation. EAP peer coordinators will follow up to ensure you have been able to access services that addressed the difficulty you were experiencing.