Why the debunked concept of Blue Monday still resonates 20 years later

Blue Monday’s designation as the saddest day of the year was debunked shortly after it was created some 20 years ago, but it continues to resonate culturally.

Experts say it’s a testament to how the travel company that coined the annual date tapped into a relatable sentiment — the third week of January can be a low time of year — but they also warn those struggling to pay attention to , that companies take advantage of that vulnerability.

The reason why Blue Monday still exists is complicated. Some psychologists have embraced the date as part of a public conversation about mental health and reducing stigma.

The Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) publishes an annual survival guide online that acknowledges there is no scientific basis for Blue Monday, but notes that its premise rings true, especially amid the dwindling daylight hours and the arrival of holiday bills in mid-January. Other major hospitals, such as the University Health Network, also post tips to combat the Blue Monday blues.

But other experts say that credible organizations engaging in a non-credible issue only perpetuates the myth of its validity, which can allow companies to profit while appearing altruistic and philanthropic.

“The concept of Blue Monday seems scientific, and then people get a little caught up in it, but ultimately it’s just a sales pitch,” said Colleen Derkatch, author of “Why Wellness Sells: Natural Health in a Pharmaceutical Culture.”

She said the fact that major health organizations are engaging with it only adds to its credibility regardless of their acknowledgment that the date is unfounded.

“By repeating the debunked idea — as I’m doing now — you risk inadvertently reinforcing it,” Derkatch said.

In 2005, Cliff Arnall, who calls himself a “bohemian psychologist” based in the UK, created an equation for Sky Travel to determine the most depressing day of the year based on the weather, debt, time since Christmas and broken New Year’s resolutions. . He settled on the third Monday in January.

Regardless of its origins as a ploy to get people to buy plane tickets, CAMH psychiatrist Dr. Michael Mak: “It has actually brought attention—and good attention—to seasonal depression.”

People in the northern hemisphere are susceptible to seasonal depression at this time of year due to a lack of light exposure, which can lead to trouble sleeping and maintaining concentration, poor appetite and low energy, he noted.

Leading up to Blue Monday this year, companies are pitching various supposed mood-enhancing purchases, including nutritional supplements, gym memberships, economy classes and travel deals to sunny destinations. A pet adoption agency even has a blog post about how animals can help you through the rough day.

These offers may seem genuine, but Calgary clinical psychologist Jonathan N. Stea says people shouldn’t confuse consumerism with seeking mental health support.

“It is true that the winter months can be difficult for some people in terms of depressive symptoms, but it signals a call for people to look after their mental health via evidence-based approaches and, if necessary, to reach out to credible mental health professionals for assistance,” said Stea, who is also an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Calgary.

Derkatch, also an English professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, pointed to a supplement company that sells vitamins ahead of Blue Monday that it says will improve consumers’ moods.

But Derkatch noted that her research, which seeks to understand mainstream and non-dominant models of health care, shows that taking a dietary supplement can be empowering for people who feel frustrated with the system, exhausted by everyday stress and short on time . exercising or eating healthy food.

“It makes them feel like they are able to do something to support their health,” she said, adding that people should be careful about what they consume and there should be solid evidence to support their justification for it.

In general, she said she is wary of perpetuating the concept that Blue Monday is harmful.

“I don’t know that there is a greater risk,” she said.

However, Derkatch said the caveat she would make is, “If you hear, ‘Oh, that’s the day people have the hardest time,’ if you’re already experiencing a mental health crisis or prone to low moods , then you have to know that this is the day when people really feel that the worst might get worse.”

Andrea Benoit, a professor of media and communication at Western University, said she worries that consumers are being led to be sad on this dedicated day of the year, which in some cases might not naturally be the case.

“This was an idea that was planted in the consumer,” Benoit said. “You create a market desire to fix it.”