The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) is calling on businesses across Wales to consider how they will tackle workforce mental health the year round.
Dubbed the most depressing day of the year, the idea of Blue Monday has gathered pace in recent years, with many of us now coming to dread the date, generally reported as falling on the third Monday in January.
Originally conceived by a PR company in 2005, Blue Monday was derived not from the results of any in-depth research, but instead by a calculation involving such factors as weather conditions, level of debt and time passed since Christmas.
Many mental health charities such as Mind have been scathing of the notion, claiming the concept of Blue Monday contributes to damaging misconceptions about depression and trivialises a potentially life-threatening illness, a view echoed by Wales chair of CIM, Dr Gavin Davies:
“As those living with depression will tell you, feelings of anxiety and depression are not exclusive to specific dates, making the notion of Blue Monday gravely misleading.
“With an estimated 300,000 jobs lost each year as a result of mental illness, it’s important to acknowledge that at times employees can find themselves feeling stressed at work, and that increased stress at home could spill over into their work lives.
“That’s why we’re calling on businesses across Wales to implement a mental health strategy which promotes a culture of wellbeing at in the workplace, not just on Blue Monday, but each day of the year.”
If you are concerned about yourself or a colleague, there are a number of mental health helplines and support groups, which can offer expert advice.
- Samaritans offer confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Call: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
www.samaritans.org.uk - No Panic is a voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Call: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm) - Anxiety UK provides support for those diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
www.anxietyuk.org.uk - CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.
Call: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
www.thecalmzone.net - SANE offers emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
Call: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)
www.sane.org.uk/
