Actually a myth, but mental health struggles a reality on ‘Blue Monday’
Posted Jan 19, 2026 04:07:59 PM.
Last Updated Jan 19, 2026 04:08:05 PM.
Scientifically, there is no evidence to back up that the third Monday in January is the saddest day of the year, but this doesn’t take away from the reality of people experiencing mental health.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Waterloo Wellington said that people do experience lower mood, fatigue or loneliness during winter months, which is a “very real” experience even if ‘Blue Monday’ is a myth.
The association notes that short daylight hours, cold weather and post-holiday stress can compound and add up on people, bringing a sense of isolation or feelings of a slump.
“The good news is that small, supportive changes can help ease the winter blues. Creating a comforting space at home, spending time outdoors during daylight hours and finding ways to stay connected (even online) can make a difference,” Helen Fishburn, CEO of CMHA Waterloo Wellington, said in a press release. “Creative activities, gentle movement and realistic routines can also help support mental well-being during colder months.”
For some, the winter blues can go beyond the colder weather. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that usually begins in the fall or winter and can improve come spring.
Some symptoms of SAD include:
- Ongoing fatigue or low energy
- Sleeping more (or trouble sleeping)
- Changes in appetite or cravings
- Weight gain
- Feeling sad, hopeless or irritable
- Difficulty concentrating
- Pulling away from people or activities you usually enjoy
This is linked to changes in daylight and how brains respond to the lack of sunlight. Family history can also play a role, the association notes.
“If these symptoms return each year, affect daily life, and ease with the change of seasons, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider,” the press release reads.
Why ‘Blue Monday’ resonates?
The concept, which was created over two decades ago, is debunked but still holds true to people — but why?
“The concept of Blue Monday seems scientific and so people get kind of caught in that, but it is ultimately just a sales pitch,” said Colleen Derkatch, author of Why Wellness Sells: Natural Health in a Pharmaceutical Culture, told The Canadian Press last year.
In 2005, Cliff Arnall, who calls himself a “bohemian psychologist” based in the United Kingdom, created an equation for Sky Travel to determine the most depressing day of the year based on weather, debt, time since Christmas, and broken New Year’s resolutions. He settled on the third Monday in January.
Derkatch said she’s wary about perpetuating the concept that Blue Monday is harmful.
“I don’t know that there’s a major risk,” she said.
However, she said the caveat she would make is, “If you hear, ‘Oh, this is the day that people have the hardest time’ if you’re already experiencing a mental health crisis or are prone to low mood, then knowing that this is the day that people really feel the worst maybe could exacerbate.”
Regardless of its origin as a ploy to get people to buy plane tickets, CAMH psychiatrist Dr. Michael Mak said, “It’s actually brought attention — and good attention — to seasonal depression.”
With files from Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press
