Every third Monday of January, a concept known as "Blue Monday" trends across social media, claiming to be the single most depressing day of the year. However, leading mental health organisations across the UK have issued strong criticism, labelling the idea a harmful and trivialising myth that oversimplifies the reality of living with depression.
The Origins of a Dubious Day
The term Blue Monday was first coined in 2005 by Welsh psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall. He reportedly developed a formula for a travel company, Sky Travel, that factored in post-Christmas gloom, poor weather, failed New Year's resolutions, and the wait for January payday to pinpoint this specific date. The concept was originally created as a marketing tool to sell summer holidays.
In a significant U-turn, Dr Arnall has since distanced himself from the bleak interpretation of the day. In a 2018 interview with The Independent, he stated that the negative connotations were "never my intention". He has instead promoted January as a positive time for planning and new beginnings.
Why Charities Are Calling It 'A Load of Rubbish'
Charities including Mind UK and Samaritans have consistently worked to debunk the Blue Monday narrative. They argue it dangerously minimises the serious, ongoing experiences of those with clinical depression and other mental health conditions.
Sonya Trivedy, Executive Director of External Engagement at Samaritans, was unequivocal in her criticism, calling Blue Monday "harmful" and "a load of rubbish". She emphasised that the notion of one worst day could deter people from seeking vital support at other times. "Our volunteers are busy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," she stated.
Brew Monday: The Positive Counter-Campaign
In direct response to Blue Monday, Samaritans runs its annual "Brew Monday" campaign. Launched nine years ago, it aims to dispel the myth by encouraging people to connect over a simple cup of tea. The message is that any day is a good day to reach out to friends, family, or even strangers for a supportive chat.
"Our Brew Monday campaign aims to dispel the unhelpful myth of 'blue Monday', because we know people can struggle any day of the year," Trivedy explained. The campaign highlights that meaningful connection and support should be a year-round priority, not confined to a single, arbitrarily calculated date.
While the third Monday of January may resonate with some feeling the winter pinch, experts stress that real depression is a complex health issue, not a one-day event. The collective advice from mental health advocates is clear: ignore the calendar pseudoscience and focus on genuine, ongoing support and open conversations about wellbeing.
