"But the messaging about it being the 'most depressing day of the year' can be daunting for people who already have a mental illness. "We all have our good and bad days and they have nothing to do with a random made-up day in January. "I like to plan ahead - so if I look at a day and see that it's labelled the most depressing day of the year I'll get anxious about that and think that I need to be happy on that day."
"I started speaking out against Blue Monday when I saw companies were trying to use it as an excuse to sell things," he told Newsbeat. "I can understand why people would feel down in January, you've just come off Christmas - spending a lot of time with family, overindulging and it's a lot darker outside."
Blue Monday is popularly described as the most depressing day of the year and is placed on the third Monday in January. The term originated in 2004 when psychologist Cliff Arnall provided a so-called "scientific formula" after a holiday company requested an explanation for January blues. TikTok posts tagged with the term rose to 68,600, a 35% year-on-year increase. Critics call the label a marketing gimmick and dispute any scientific basis. Individuals with anxiety report the label increases worry and pressure to feel a certain way. Seasonal factors such as post-Christmas comedown, darker days, and commercial exploitation contribute to January low moods.
Read at www.bbc.com
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