Charity campaign raises awareness that depression is a year-long problem for millions
A leading charity is rebranding Blue Monday for Brew Monday in a bid to raise awareness that depression is a daily problem for millions.
The Samaritans wants to dispel the myth there is a most ‘depressing’ day of the year and is asking the nation to ignore the blue and instead put the kettle on and have a brew with a friend or a colleague.
Blue Monday 2017 will fall on 16 January.
Celebrities including Robbie Williams, Sky Soccer AM’s Fenners, ITV’s Lorraine and Loose Women presenters Ayda Field, Janet Street Porter, Nadia Sawalha and Kaye Adams are all backing the campaign to get people talking by revealing what chases their blues away.
Samaritans chief executive Ruth Sutherland said: “Challenging feelings don’t work to a calendar and external circumstances are only one part of what can makes life feel overwhelming. Health, family, work, relationships and money issues, or feelings of loneliness, isolation or uncertainty could be making life really tough.
“Samaritans' Brew Monday gives you the chance to sit down with a friend and talk to them or listen to them over a cup of tea, or coffee if you prefer.
“If you want to make an even bigger difference in 2017, why not think about donating some money or some of your time to Samaritans to help keep our life-saving services going.”
Ian Stevens, programme manager for suicide prevention at Network Rail, said on behalf of the rail industry: “Brew Monday is a great example of the kind of collaborative work the rail industry can undertake with our partners at Samaritans to help save lives.
“Last year staff across the network made 239 life-saving interventions, thanks to our partnership. Our British Transport Police colleagues made a further 300.
“Millions of people use railway stations every day and we hope by using them to promote this important message, we will encourage more people to get together to talk over a cup of tea, speak to friends or relatives and save more lives.”
