Let’s look at the history - Blue Monday is the name given to a day in January (usually the third Monday of the month) by psychologist Cliff Arnall in 2004. He came up with it after a holiday company, Sky Travel asked him for a "scientific formula" for the January blues. The concept was first published in a 2005 press release from the company, which claimed to have calculated the date using an "equation".

However, the formula has been debunked by scientists and mental health experts as unscientific and misleading. There is no evidence to support the claim that any one day is "the most depressing" or that people are more likely to experience depression on a specific day. The concept of "Blue Monday" is considered a myth by many experts.

Mentalhealth.org.uk states the following:

Blue Monday is a PR stunt that was originally dreamed up to sell holidays. It is a myth, a false calculation based on things like the gloomy weather, post-Christmas debt, disappointment from not keeping new year’s resolutions, dissatisfaction about going back to work and general doom and gloom. Since then, it has become a rather tedious yearly PR event, often designed to promote things that are vaguely linked to improving our wellbeing, more often than not with a complete lack of evidence. No actual scientific studies have ever backed up any claims about Blue Monday.

January Struggles

There is evidence to suggest that people may experience increased stress and anxiety during the month of January, due to a variety of factors such as post-holiday blues, financial stress from holiday spending, the cost of living crisis and a lack of sunlight during the shorter winter days. Additionally, the start of a new year can also bring feelings of pressure and expectations of self-improvement, which can be stressful for some people.

It is important to note that the relationship between the month and mental health is complex, and mental health struggles can occur at any time. People can experience mental health problems regardless of the time of year, and some people may not experience any significant change in their mental health during January. It's also worth noting that while some people may struggle more during this month, other people may find it helpful to set new goals, start new routines, and make positive changes in the new year.

Prioritise Your Mental Health

Awareness days are important to bring attention to a variety of Mental Health issues that many of us face, however we wish to encourage everyone to focus on prioritising your Mental Health daily, not just for one day.

Let’s not allow social media and labels to convince us of how we really feel. Be mindful. Listen to your own mind, body and soul. Then you can give YOU, the self-care you need, when you need it.

Take care
Dean & Bel