RNIB Cymru highlights importance of emotional support over Christmas

Christmas is meant to be a time of fun and festivities, but sometimes our emotional wellbeing takes a hit during the winter months.

Many people can benefit from a little extra emotional support during the festive season. This support can be especially crucial for people living with sight loss, especially if they have been recently diagnosed. Receiving help, advice and support at the right time can make a real difference to blind and partially sighted people, helping them to enjoy a magical Christmas.

With 13 people a day losing their sight in Wales*, RNIB is urging blind and partially sighted people across Wales to use its flagship Sight Loss Advice Service during the festive season if they feel they need a little extra emotional help. The service provides practical and emotional support over the phone, face-to-face at many hospital eye clinics, or through online information.

The sight loss advice line has seen a 240 per cent increase in calls about emotional support from 2016 to 2019. 111,000 people in Wales currently live with sight loss and this number is expected to increase by 32% by 2050.

RNIB Cymru Director Ansley Workman said: “Living with sight loss can have a huge impact on your life. It’s not just the big, life-changing aspects that people need support with. Sometimes it’s the smaller, everyday things that stop people in their tracks or prevent them from living the life they want to. Our Sight Loss Advisers and Eye Clinic Liaison Officers receive specialist training on living with sight loss, and many have personal experience of sight loss themselves.

“We believe everyone should have access to the emotional support they need to help them rebuild their resilience and a sense of optimism about the future. Sight loss should be no barrier to enjoying Christmas.”

RNIB’s Helpline received almost 250,000 calls during 2018. Calls to RNIB range from topics such emotional support to employment, benefits, education, legal rights and technology.

Get in touch with on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk/advice for more information.