A Merseyside mental health professional has warned that labelling January as a depressing month risks trivialising mental health issues.
Hannah McGovern, Campaigns and Marketing Officer at mental health charity Be Free Campaign thinks instilling poor expectations of the month can make people feel worse than they originally would.
Terms such as January Blues and Blue Monday have become commonplace to mark the beginning of the year and end of the festive period.
McGovern said: “Labelling certain days as inherently depressing can trivialise mental ill health while also reinforcing the expectation that people should feel low.”
“When this messaging is repeated year after year, especially in corporate or media spaces, it can create a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. People may feel pressure to identify with the label even if it doesn’t reflect their experience,” she added.
The January Blues are an umbrella term that encapsulates low mood during the month.
Blue Monday refers to the third Monday in January and is often described as the saddest day of the year. This year it falls on the 19th.
There is no scientific proof that this day is any different to others. It is widely considered that the concept was a PR stunt that was initially used to sell holidays, although the term has caught on and is still used today.
This isn’t to say that feeling low in January isn’t normal. Common disorders including Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is associated with feeling depressed during the winter months – but this usually goes away in the summer.
McGovern said: “January often follows a period of rest, routine disruption, and social connection.
“Your body may be used to late mornings or relaxing, so returning to work and structure can feel jarring and take some time to readjust.”
She added: “There’s also a growing ‘reset’ or ‘lock-in’ culture in January, where people feel pressured to change or improve their lives unrealistically.
“That can become an unhealthy pressure when change is framed as urgency rather than gradual growth.”
The Be Free Campaign believes this messaging can affect anyone, but especially those who are already vulnerable.
“These labels can reinforce the stigma that their struggles are ‘just January blues’,” said McGovern.
Labels may also discourage people from seeking help if their distress is dismissed as the January Blues.
She said: “When people minimise their own experiences or assume they should simply wait it out, they may delay recognising when they need support.
“That’s particularly concerning when we already know many people hesitate to seek support due to these stigmas.”
“It is important to contact your GP or a mental help professional if these negative thoughts keep reoccurring for a long period of time or are severely impacting your life,” she added.
Featured image (C) Glen Carrie via Unsplash