The third Monday of January has been dubbed in the past by a holiday agency as ‘Blue Monday’ which they say is the most depressing day of the year as a Leicester psychotherapist says there is some truth to it.
The combination of bad weather, financial strain, end of the festive season along with others are all reasons to what makes January and in particular today the most depressing time of the year.
Whilst January’s third Monday has been described as Blue Monday, Leicester psychotherapist, Jenny Collard from Rutland House Counselling and Psychotherapist says there is definitely some truth to it.
Jenny says her practice sees about a 10% rise in people coming forward with depression compared to other times of the year. She is sceptical if today really is ‘Blue Monday’ but she says this month does seem to be linked to depression.
“In January we do see an increase in people seeking private psychological therapy so there must be something to it,”
“There is such a thing called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) where people feel that they become depressed in the winter months, there’s shorter day light hours, so a lack of Vitamin D…a lot of people just find the weather depressing. There’s also the anti-climax after the Christmas months.”
De Montfort University hosted an event for Blue Monday – as they tried to introduce ways to help people suffering with depression or for those who feel they may be at risk of it.
The university were encouraging students to sign up to new sports/exercise classes which is linked to a healthy mind, as well as the advertisement of healthy eating and religion for those who may prefer a route of faith.
