As the third Monday of January rolls around, the notion of “Blue Monday” – dubbed the “most depressing day of the year” – once again gains traction on social media. However, mental health charities have consistently criticised this concept, arguing that it trivialises the complexities of depression.
The term “Blue Monday” was coined in 2005 by Welsh psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall, who developed a formula to pinpoint the gloomiest day of the year. Factors such as weather, debt levels, and the time since Christmas were all taken into account. Yet, Dr Arnall himself has since distanced himself from these calculations, acknowledging that the day has become riddled with negative connotations – something he never intended.
Mental health charities, such as Mind UK and Samaritans, have been vocal in their criticism of Blue Monday. Sonya Trivedy, the executive director of external engagement at Samaritans, has called the concept “harmful” and “a load of rubbish”, arguing that it oversimplifies the complex nature of mental health challenges.
“Our volunteers are busy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so the idea that there’s a single ‘worst’ day of the year is not only a load of rubbish but is harmful as it could deter people from seeking support when they really need it,” Trivedy said.
In response, Samaritans launched their “Brew Monday” campaign, which aims to dispel the myth of Blue Monday and encourage people to reach out to friends, family, and strangers over a cup of tea. The charity emphasises that people can struggle with their mental health any day of the year, and that seeking support is crucial.
As the debate surrounding Blue Monday continues, mental health advocates remain steadfast in their efforts to challenge this narrative. They argue that by trivialising the experiences of those living with depression and other mental health issues, the concept of Blue Monday does more harm than good. Instead, the focus should be on promoting year-round awareness, understanding, and access to mental health resources.