‘Blue Monday,’ so-called saddest day of year, a chance to talk about mental health: experts
Posted January 16, 2022 10:36 am.
Last Updated January 17, 2022 11:22 am.
It may not really be the saddest day of the year, but mental health experts say Blue Monday can help spark conversations about winter mental health.
The third monday of January was dubbed ‘Blue Monday,’ by a U.K. travel company, but the moniker has no scientific justification.
Pamela Findling with the BC Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), says although there is not much science behind the day, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) does impact many people each year.
“Darker days, shorter days, dreary weather, the added compounding effect of pandemic, and concerns about climate change can make this time of year quite sad and stressful for a lot of people,” she said.
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According to the CMHA, up to 15 per cent of Canadians experience SAD symptoms during the winter months.
“We’ve definitely seen an increase in calls to our hotline, the BC crisis lines, and more need for services, but what’s great is people are reaching out for help,” she said. “That’s a really important aspect of taking care of your mental health and well being.”
Findling says with Blue Monday, sparks conversation around mental health and the treatments for SAD or SAD-like symptoms.
“This day encourages people to remember those things that work for them like getting outside, being active, eating properly, sleeping properly, calling friends, not spending too much time on social media, and then if it is overwhelming to reach out for help.”
Dr. Aliya Visram with the Wellbe family wellness centre in Toronto echoes Findling’s sentiments, saying despite cold or rainy weather, movement and activity are a key part of maintaining our bodies and minds through the winter.
She also suggests mindfulness like therapy, intuitive eating and sleep hygiene.
“Creating like a schedule around sleep, so like sleeping the same amount of time,” she said. “Day to day, doing things that are really really ritualistic around sleep. So whether that’s like taking a bath or like reading a book or putting on a scent, or you know, relating a candle, all those ritualistic experiences are lending itself to sleep and so sleep was a very important thing around this time of year.”
However, she also wants people to distinguish between feeling down and depression and anxiety. She says more long-term mental health struggles, such as depression, can be exacerbated during the winter months.
Aside from Findling’s tips, the CMHA website also offers suggested treatments to ease winter SAD symptoms such as increased sunlight exposure, exercise, and resisting certain cravings.
But, Findling says the most important thing is “to know when to reach out for help.”
– With files from Robyn Crawford and Michelle Mackey