Experts Offer Tips to Combat ‘Blue Monday’ and Promote Mental Wellness During January’s Darkest Days

(KNSI) – The third Monday in January is often considered the most depressing day of the year, and officials have advice on how to overcome it.

Experts say the combination of credit card payments coming due from the holidays, New Year’s resolutions already getting broken, the fierce cold of winter and a lack of sun combined with an end to fun family visits can lead to a steep decline in someone’s mental health around this time of year.

The pseudoscientific theory of Blue Monday was invented by a British psychologist in 2005. St. Cloud Chapter President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Nick Johnston told KNSI News there is no real scientific basis for the saddest day claim, but there is no doubt that seasonal affective disorder is behind a lot of people feeling the blues. “This time of year, we get less sunlight. And you need to get plenty of sunlight. It’s a good source of vitamin D, and that’s important for both our bodies and our brains.”

He recommends getting outside to get exposed to sunlight, and if it’s too cold, sit in front of a sunny window or invest in a light box that mimics the sun’s rays. Johnson explained other ways to combat sadness, including, “First of all, start getting plenty of sleep. You know that you need eight to 10 hours, and if you don’t get enough sleep, you start getting depressed or anxious. Second thing, you need to eat well, you need to avoid alcohol, smoking and drugs.” He stated the St. Cloud community has all kinds of resources NAMI can direct people to. Anyone feeling depressed for more than two weeks should seek help.

Johnston also wanted to remind everyone that January is National Mental Wellness Month, a time to promote self-care. The month aims to break the stigma around mental health disorders and encourage people to seek help.

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