Where did ‘Blue Monday’ come from?

Cliff Arnall, a Psychologist, was asked to create a formula for the January Blues by a travel firm back in 2004. They used the phrase in their advertising to promote travel deals in the January after Christmas!

The formula he created used factors such as weather, debt, monthly salary, time since Christmas, time since failing New Year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and the feeling of needing to take action. That alongside experience from workshops led to the date of the third Monday in January being chosen! … and it has been used within marketing and advertising ever since. It has to be noted that Arnall has since said to refute the whole notion and described it as basically m pseudoscience.

Mental health organisations warn that Blue Monday campaigns focus on the one day and often trivialise what are often long term debilitating mental health conditions. As Mind Charity have shared on their social media this morning…
“Blue Monday isn’t real, but depression is, and it doesn’t care what day it is – your calendar doesn’t decide your good and bad days.”

However, we should always be looking for positives and opportunities in every situation. As this has now become so well publicised, the plus to come out of this is that it can be used to address the stigma surrounding depression, raise awareness of symptoms and signpost people to avenues where help can be found.

I’ve always been open and honest about my struggles with anxiety and depression over the last 15 years, which I have to admit has received a mixed response at times. The majority of times, people have been incredibly supportive, but there have been a few instances where I have experienced ‘the stigma’. Although times have changed considerably from when I was first diagnosed 15 years ago, the fact that there can still be a stigma out there is not ok, it can lead to people suffering in silence and discourages people them from speaking up and getting help. Let’s change the narrative.

If you are experiencing mental health issues, help can be found with Mind, The Samaritans, Campaign against living Miserably, C.A.L.L (Wales residents), Talking Mental Health Derbyshire (for Derbyshire residents or your local regional NHS service), The Mix (Under 25’s) and more.