Blue Monday

by Angus Davidson
Communications Officer | Disabled Police Association

Today, the 20th January is Blue Monday

What is Blue Monday?
First introduced in 2005, Blue Monday is the “most depressing day of the year”. It typically falls on the third Monday of January.

Is Blue Monday backed by science?
As of January 2025, no. It was created by a travel company for a marketing campaign.

Why should we care about Blue Monday?
Blue Monday is is an opportunity for all of us to think about our mental health.

I am an Autistic ADHDer and am aware neither neurological condition are mental health conditions. However, I can confidently say being an Autistic ADHDer has had a big impact on my mental health. Fortunately, I was diagnosed around a year ago, so I am aware of how autism and ADHD affect my mental health.

What do I do to keep on top of my mental health?
There are three main things I do to keep on top of my mental health.

Meditation: I have been using Headspace for around 10 years and it has really helped. The more I use it, the better I get at meditating and switching off when I’m resting.

For those who would like to give meditation a go, you can follow the link below to try it from Headspace, a well-established brand that has changed meditation over the last decade. Get your 30-Day Guest Pass for Headspace here

Also, I recommend following the Mental Health Foundation. They recently did a fantastic post giving suggestions on how to manage stress.

Talking: whenever I am stressed or anxious about something, I make sure I make the people around me aware. I am regularly honest with my line manager, colleagues, family and friends.

I truly feel being vulnerable to others is an important part of life because feeling like you can’t talk about your issues is a dangerous path to be on. If you feel you currently can’t talk about your feelings with the people around you, there are people out there who are ready to listen.

Samaritans

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Exercise: I find running on my own is particularly good for clearing things in my head that are bothering me. If running isn’t your thing, try going for a walk.

#BlueMonday #MentalHealthAwareness #SelfCare #YouAreNotAlone ∎