Our mental health and wellbeing is not something that should be defined by a date on the calendar, or a marketing initiative...
In 2004 psychologist Cliff Arnell was paid to calculate the most depressing day of the year. Sky Travel were looking for a scientific formula to help drive their marketing efforts, promote their summer getaways and sell more holidays. Arnell’s ‘formula’ factored in the weather, post Xmas debt, lack of motivation and days into January when the ‘new year, new me’ goals had fallen by the wayside, to declare the third Monday in January the most depressing day of the year. As simple as that, Blue Monday was born, because a travel agent and a paid psychologist told us it was so.
But we cannot attribute the feelings of a nation to a single day, and the Samaritans led a campaign to rename and reframe the day, and Brew Monday took shape.
Brew Monday champions the benefit of connection and conversation. In the UK, 49.63% of adults (25.99 million people) reported feeling lonely occasionally, sometimes, often or always during a survey conducted in 2022.* Loneliness can increase the risk of poor mental health** and 62% of young people surveyed*** shared that ‘loneliness makes them lose confidence in themselves.’ So, whilst the third Monday in every January will never be the most depressing day of the year, let’s pop the kettle on and catch up over a cuppa.
Their message is amplified across the country in local communities, homes and workplaces. Events are organised by charities, churches, cafes and coffee shops with people coming together on Monday 20 January 'in person, over the phone and online. If you’ve been meaning to reach out to someone, this is your reminder.
And if you're looking for a community event in Chobham, we're opening the doors of the therapy room from 10am - 12 pm on Monday 20 January '25. Join myself and fellow therapist Aimee for coffee, conversation or a space to sit with your thoughts:
The Therapy Rooms
Chobham House
1 Windsor Road
Chobham
GU24 8NA
There is no parking onsite but we are less than a 5 minute stroll from the village car park.
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