Some health officials have dubbed the Monday of the last full week of January Blue Monday and say it is the most depressing day of the year. In fact, the Canadian Mental Health Association chapter in Windsor, Ontario is holding a Blue Monday open house to try to help people get through the day.
Canada’s northern location means there are fewer hours of daylight hours in January, it is cold, all the excitement of the Christmas holidays is over, but the bills for holiday purchases are coming in, and many people may be failing to keep their New Year’s resolutions.
Lack of sunlight biggest factor
The biggest factor causing the blues at this time of year however is the lack of exposure to sunlight, says Trang Le, a registered psychologist. Up to 10 per cent of Canadians may suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, says Le. “People tend to feel less energetic, less motivated and maybe a little more down than usual.”
To counter the effect, Le suggests getting out in the sun for 10-20 minutes a day, monitoring carbohydrate intake and exercising. That may not be enough for some people and they may need to seek medical help.
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