The third Monday of January is often referred to as Blue Monday and considered to be the most depressing day of the year: the festive season is over, bills may have arrived, payday is some way off, the weather is gloomy and new year resolutions have often been shelved by this point.
This year's Blue Monday falls during a national lockdown in a worldwide pandemic, meaning that challenges faced by many people over winter will be felt even more acutely.
We don’t like the idea of Blue Monday here at CHN and in a bid to beat the blues, Samaritans have launched a campaign for BREW MONDAY instead, urging people to virtually check in with friends and relatives. Now… being from Yorkshire, this is definitely something we can get behind because no one loves a brew more than us (especially when it's some proper Yorkshire Tea).
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Research found that 58% of UK adults felt that speaking regularly to friends and family either on the phone, via video calls or in person over the last year had a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.
Feeling alone with your problems can have a big impact on your mental health, especially after the year we’ve all had. So, get on board with Brew Monday and reach out to a friend, family member or colleague for a virtual cuppa and a chat. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be a Monday or even a cup of tea (but come on, what else do we drink up here). Just taking time to really listen to another person could help them work through what’s on their mind and feel supported, because now more than ever, sharing a cuppa is more than just a drink – it's about reaching out, checking in and staying connected.
Anyone can contact Samaritans free any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. Or you can visit www.samaritans.org for more information.
The research was carried out by YouGov from 27 November to 30 November and included 2,075 UK adults.