Blue Monday: Part of the problem or solution?

Director of England for the Mental Health Foundation, Alexa Knight, spoke about the potential issues Blue Monday poses for those who struggle with their mental health year-round.

She said: “I think the origins of Blue Monday have been shown to be rooted in marketing ploys rather than actual evidence. And that's not particularly helpful.

“We all have times where we feel low, and people who struggle with their mental health can feel can feel under pressure at any time.”

Knight said a better approach is to increase awareness of certain signs that people may be struggling with their mental health and need to seek help.

She said: “We all feel anxious from time to time, but it's when your anxiety tips over into something that stops you doing the things you want to do.

“So you might be so anxious that you can't see your friends, or you can't go to work.”

Knight emphasised the services the Mental Health Foundation offer as coping strategies for those who struggle with their mental health both during January and year-round.

She added: “There's lots of tips on our website, mentalhealth.org.uk, about things that people can do to protect and promote their own good mental health. And they are things like getting exercise, eating well, drinking moderately.

“But there are also things like making plans, looking having things to look forward to, reflecting on what it is that you enjoy doing and arranging to do more of those things.” 

Knight concluded: “Take this time to be kind to yourself and find things that bring you joy, not feeling pressured into doing things that suit others.”

Psychotherapist, spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Ali Ross commented on how Blue Monday is not baseless, saying people struggle to find meaning, purpose or motivation during the new year.

“We have to pay the price, both literally and metaphorically, for Christmas in terms of any excesses indulged in, work that we put off, it is tax return time for the self-employed, the weather can be bleak and the days remain short, limiting daylight,” he added.

These mental health problems can arise for anyone, regardless of their age, yet the factors may be triggered differently.

For older people, loneliness is quite common, and Age UK’s Policy Manager for Health, Jenny Lippiatt, stated how some of the factors that come with January itself can facilitate isolation.

She said: “Right now, we're experiencing quite cold weather, but things like snow and ice and rain and wind mean that people don't get out and about as much."

Lippiatt discussed how Blue Monday is a double-edged sword, and would rather it was not used for marketing purposes, but instead for patient treatment.

She said: “Talking about mental health and raising the awareness of it is a positive thing.

"When it comes to older people who are less likely to recognise that they have a mental health condition, they're less likely to talk about it than younger generations,” she added.

In regards to young people, Psychology masters student at Queen Mary University of London, Marie Krawczykowski said: "I think exams is a big one because it tends to be such a heavy month of exams where you feel like there is a lot of pressure to do well.”

“Everybody is working independently so you are seeing people and socialising less,” she added.

With regards to what universities should offer in response to mental health struggles in January, Krawczykowski suggested group meditation, community arts and crafts, an overall range of structured activities with lots of people.

She said: “When students feel bad about their mental health, when they are stressed or feel more depressed, they are less likely to be accessing services.”