Debunking Blue Monday: The Myth of the Saddest Day of the Year
For years now, discussions in newspapers and on social media have revolved around the concept of Blue Monday, purportedly the saddest day of the year, typically falling on the third Monday of January. In the English language, 'blue' connotes feelings of sadness or depression. This theory suggests that a combination of factors on this specific day negatively impacts people's moods.
However, the tale of Blue Monday is nothing more than a fabricated myth. It originated in the mid-2000s as part of an advertising campaign, and the formula presented to justify its existence lacks any scientific validity.
The term Blue Monday was first coined in 2005 when the British television channel Sky Travel commissioned psychologist Cliff Arnall to devise a formula for the widespread feelings of sadness reported by many post-Christmas. Arnall, who was affiliated with Cardiff University, claimed he could pinpoint the most depressing day of the year by analyzing various factors, including feelings of remorse over holiday spending, the time lapsed since the holiday, and the dreary winter weather, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere.
Despite the allure of such a formula, it has no mathematical or scientific grounding; it fails to define measurement units and overlooks differing weather patterns across countries. Ultimately, Blue Monday serves as a glaring example of how marketing can thrive on pseudoscientific claims, often endorsed by media outlets lacking due diligence.
Sky Travel leveraged the concept of Blue Monday in two separate promotional press releases in 2005 and again in 2009, by which time various counterarguments against the idea were already circulating. Over time, this myth was seized upon by other companies as a marketing tool, expanding its reach beyond the UK. Recently, social media has only further amplified the notion of Blue Monday, incorporating it into various advertising campaigns. Italian newspapers, for example, have also reported on this so-called saddest day while tying Arnall's theory to strategies for combatting depression, often without the seriousness such a topic demands.
To date, there has been no empirical research to support the claim that any single day is universally more melancholic than another for the populace. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, the formula allegedly calculating this supposed day of despair holds no scientific merit.
The ramifications of propagating the Blue Monday narrative can be detrimental, particularly for individuals genuinely battling depression. Fact-checking websites like Snopes have highlighted that linking transient or arbitrary events, such as the post-holiday slump or rising bills, to depression may inadvertently imply that such psychological conditions can be easily remedied through simple actions like planning a holiday or making a purchase.
Additionally, Cardiff University has distanced itself from Arnall, who also asserted he discovered a method for identifying the happiest day of the year, reportedly occurring between May and July. This declaration, too, was framed within the confines of a corporate commission by the British ice cream brand Walls, known as Algida in Italy.
Philip Clarke, a psychology instructor at the University of Derby, expressed to BBC News that he understands why many might feel a bit down in mid-January: after the Christmas festivities, people have spent quality time with family, indulged a bit more, and are treated to dwindling daylight. However, he emphasizes that there is no substantial scientific evidence connecting this time of year with a spike in requests for psychological assistance. Like others in the field, he observes that the narrative of Blue Monday appears to be primarily utilized by companies aiming to increase sales.
While Blue Monday may lack any real scientific foundation, it has inadvertently sparked interest in discussions surrounding depression and anxiety, potentially encouraging people to engage in dialogues about coping mechanisms. However, as we move forward, it is crucial to approach mental health discussions with the seriousness and rigor they deserve, without falling prey to oversimplified, marketing-driven narratives.
Related Sources: