Published Thursday 14 January 2016 at 16:59
If you’re feeling the emotional and mental strain this January, you’re not alone. In fact psychologists have dubbed this coming Monday, January 18, Blue Monday!
A combination of the dreary grey and wet weather, post-Christmas financial strains and broken New Year’s resolutions have conspired to make this Monday ‘the most depressing day of the year’.
But it’s not all bad – there are things you can do to lift the gloom whether it be practical steps like the nationally-recognised ‘five ways to wellbeing’ (be active, take notice, keep learning, connect, give) or just voluntary acts of kindness to brighten up people’s day.
If you wish to tackle Blue Monday head on and take the five ways to wellbeing you could get some natural daylight and fresh air with a lunchtime walk in one of the borough’s parks; take advantage of the free leisure available in Blackburn with Darwen with a beeZ card; help others through volunteering whether it be through official channels or just helping your next-door neighbour or elderly people along your street. You could also learn a new skill or take up a hobby – Blackburn with Darwen’s libraries are a great source of information to help you learn more; or renew that New Year’s resolution as there’s plenty of support available to help you quit smoking or lose weight among other things.
Mental health is of course a serious issue and a key priority for the borough’s health providers. Locally the Wellbeing Service is crucial to signposting local residents to support on a range of issues and an online resource – Big White Wall – provides 24/7 peer and professional support. There are also various training programmes for residents and volunteers available.
Blackburn with Darwen Council has recently appointed its own mental health champion. Councillor Brian Taylor, also Assistant Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, will be working to break down the stigma attached to mental health, tackle discrimination and increase awareness. He will be out in the community listening to our residents about what they need for better mental and emotional health.
Councillor Taylor said:
The Council is, of course, here to help signpost people to receive the help they need in combating issues such as depression and anxiety all throughout the year but there are also a few practical steps that we all can all take to improve how we feel during this early part of the year.
Some of the steps are very easy, and free, such as getting outside for some daylight and fresh air by taking a stroll through your local park, doing some exercise to release those endorphins, using your local library to learn a new skill or finding satisfaction in giving up your time to help others.