Blue Monday - the third Monday in January - has for 20 years been regarded as the most depressing day of the year. To what extent does this belief coincide with the facts?

'The concept of Blue Monday was ‘given’ to us by Cliff Arnal, who presents himself as a psychologist from Cardiff University,' says dr Agata Rudnik, director of the UG Academic Psychological Support Centre. 'He estimated that if we overlap factors such as the weather, economic factors (the state of our wallet after Christmas shopping) and our mood (e.g. guilt about not fulfilling our New Year's resolutions), it is this third Monday in January that turns out to be the moment when we find it hardest during the year - and we would most like to go on holiday. Then it turned out that he was doing a survey on behalf of a travel agency. So the prescription for a sad day was to treat ourselves to a trip.'

Apparently, the author of the concept himself was surprised by the publicity this pseudo-scientific notion received. He later even fought the concept on social media.

We have no evidence that Blue Monday actually exists. On the other hand, according to psychologists at APSC, ‘Every opportunity is a good one to talk more (and more!) about taking care of mental health’.

If you want to learn more about ‘why we need Blue Monday’ and how to take care of your mental health, please visit the UG Academic Psychological Support Centre website.