Christmas is over, summer still feels so far away and, for many, the resolutions have already been thrown out the window. It's no wonder that today has become known as Blue Monday.
The concept of Blue Monday first came about in 2004 when psychologist Cliff Arnall was approached by Sky Travel to come up with a 'formula' for the January blues that they could use in a upcoming marketing campaign to entice people to book foreign holidays.
Arnall took multiple factors into consideration, such as the weather and potentially giving up on New Year's resolutions, and this is what he came up with:
From this formula, Arnall determined that the most depressing day of the year was the third Monday in January. This day would become known as Blue Monday.
You might see people on social media talking about Blue Monday today. You may even get marketing emails from companies looking to cash in and encouraging you to buy everything from holidays in the sun to 'miracle cures' to beat the Winter Blues. However, it is important to remember that mental health cannot be boiled down to a mere formula.
Mental Health is complex and completely individual. While some people can suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during the winter months because of the shorter days and the reduced exposure to sunlight, others do not.
As Cliff Arnall himself later said, “...it is not particularly helpful to put (Blue Monday) out there and say 'there you are'.” He even described it as a self-fulfilling prophecy i.e. people feel bad because they are told it is a depressing day.
So what do we do about Blue Monday? Why not use it as a reminder to check in with your friends and loved ones. Sit down and have a cuppa and a chat or send them a text to let them know that you are there and thinking about them.
And, if you are struggling today, or any day, remember that it is important to get the appropriate help that you need. In school, you can speak to your Head of House, the Nurse or an SVI Mental Health Ambassador.
You can also speak to your GP or contact one of the following organisations:
Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org
SAHM: https://www.samh.org.uk
Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk
Young Minds: https://www.youngminds.org.uk
Give Us a Shout: https://giveusashout.org/