Why Blue Monday is a 'pseudo science' and what you can do to help winter blues

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

We've all heard of Blue Monday - the third Monday of January when, according to legend, we are all glum, broke, and down in the dumps.

It has become a well-known fixture of the year, but according to Manchester Mind, the day is actually a 'pseudo-science' created by a psychologist to sell holidays.

They say that while many people do struggle with their mental health during the winter, the myth of Blue Monday actually 'trivialises' depression and masks the real reasons why winter can be a difficult time for many.

Sam Harwood, Marketing and Communications Manager at Manchester Mind said a lot of people struggle with low mood during the winter, and that there are 'genuine' reasons behind it. "At Manchester Mind we want to bust the myth that Blue Monday exists, but explain that there is science behind why we feel worse at this time of year," she said. "Anyone who suffers from depression knows that it doesn't last for just one day." She told the M.E.N people may notice certain symptoms at this time of year, including persistent low mood or feeling hopeless, being more prone to getting upset or tearful, and having their sleep easily disturbed.