January’s “Blue Monday” continues to circulate online as the so-called “most depressing day of the year,” despite repeated warnings from mental health experts that the claim has no scientific basis.
The concept originated in the United Kingdom and has been widely discredited by mental health authorities, including the UK Mental Health Foundation, which has described Blue Monday as a public relations stunt unsupported by evidence. According to the foundation, no scientific research shows that a single day causes higher levels of depression.
Science news outlet Live Science has reported similar conclusions, noting the absence of credible data validating the idea. Nevertheless, mental health advocates say the annual attention persists because it overlaps with a real experience for many people: heightened stress and emotional strain after the holidays.
READ: No Shame in Seeking Professional Mental Health Help: Removing the Stigma
A winter concept that doesn’t fit the tropics
Blue Monday’s popular narrative draws heavily from Northern Hemisphere conditions such as winter darkness, cold weather, and seasonal affective disorder—factors that do not apply to tropical countries like the Philippines.
Psychologists and advocates, however, note that the absence of winter does not mean the absence of distress. January in the Philippines often brings its own pressures, including the return to work or school, unpaid holiday bills, and the psychological weight of unmet New Year expectations.
While the scientific premise of Blue Monday collapses, the emotional context it taps into remains relevant.
Economic indicators reinforce this context. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Consumer Expectations Survey for the fourth quarter of 2025, consumer confidence turned more pessimistic, with respondents citing higher inflation and lower household income.
Although the survey does not measure mental health, experts consistently identify financial insecurity as a stressor that can worsen anxiety, disrupt sleep, and affect overall well-being. Advocates therefore argue that January distress deserves honest discussion as a product of structural and personal pressures, not as a mythologized “sad day.”
Why fatalistic messaging can be harmful
Mental health organizations warn that labeling any day as “the most depressing” oversimplifies serious conditions such as depression and anxiety.
According to the UK Mental Health Foundation, Blue Monday has evolved into a yearly media ritual that often promotes vague or commercial “wellness fixes” instead of evidence-based support. Depression, by contrast, is a medical and psychosocial condition that does not follow a calendar and requires appropriate care.
Advocates caution that sensational framing can trivialize lived experiences and discourage people from seeking help when symptoms persist.
The stakes remain high. Based on reports citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country recorded 3,133 deaths due to intentional self-harm in 2023. A 2025 news report citing PSA figures said this number rose to 3,379 in 2024—an increase of 246 deaths year-on-year.
These figures underscore that mental health challenges are not seasonal talking points but ongoing public health concerns that require sustained attention and resources.
Global and local evidence behind the concern
Globally, the burden of mental health conditions remains significant. According to the World Health Organization, around 5.7% of adults worldwide live with depression, and depression remains a major contributor to suicide risk.
WHO further reports that more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year, making it one of the leading causes of death globally, particularly among young people aged 15 to 29. These figures highlight why mental health messaging must prioritize accuracy and access to care rather than viral narratives.
Large-scale surveys also show how widespread stress and worry are in everyday life. Gallup’s State of the World’s Emotional Health report found that 39% of adults worldwide experienced “a lot of worry” and 37% experienced “a lot of stress” on the previous day in 2024.
While such surveys are not diagnostic tools, they provide context for why many people resonate with discussions about emotional fatigue, including those framed around January.
In the Philippine context, local media have cited the Mental State of the World 2024 report by Sapien Labs, which uses a Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) based on self-reported online data. Reporting by GMA News Online noted that the Philippines’ MHQ score declined in 2024 compared with 2023.
Sapien Labs itself cautions that its findings reflect online populations and should not be interpreted as clinical prevalence rates. Even so, advocates say the data reinforce the need for mental health conversations beyond symbolic awareness days.
READ: 10 Facts About Mental Health: Why It’s Just as Important as Physical Health
What Philippine law and health policy provide
Mental health advocates emphasize that Filipinos are not starting from zero in terms of policy.
Republic Act No. 11036, or the Philippine Mental Health Act, establishes a national policy that integrates mental health services into the health system and protects the rights of people with mental health conditions. The law mandates the state to promote mental well-being and ensure access to care across communities.
In addition, PhilHealth has highlighted its Outpatient Benefits Package for Mental Health under PhilHealth Circular 2023-0018. According to PhilHealth, members and dependents aged 10 years and above may access services such as psychiatric assessments, follow-up consultations, diagnostic tests, and psychosocial support for covered conditions, including depression and self-harm risks.
Advocates note, however, that awareness of these benefits remains uneven and access can still be limited by service availability and stigma.
How advocates reframe Blue Monday
Rather than rejecting Blue Monday outright, many organizations use the attention it generates to push for destigmatization and help-seeking.
In the Philippines, groups such as the Philippine Mental Health Association, founded in 1950, focus on education, advocacy, intervention, and research to improve mental health outcomes. Meanwhile, MentalHealthPH, a volunteer-led organization, maintains directories and emergency help information to guide people toward available services.
Globally, the UK Mental Health Foundation takes a similar stance: rejecting the myth while using the moment to encourage people to check in on themselves and others. According to the foundation, feeling low in January may stem from debt, dissatisfaction, or routine shock, and these feelings warrant compassion and practical support rather than fatalistic narratives.
Where to seek help when it matters
For individuals experiencing severe distress or thoughts of self-harm, immediate support is critical. The National Center for Mental Health operates a 24/7 Crisis Hotline, reachable through 1553 and mobile numbers such as 0919-057-1553, according to government advisories.
Mental health organizations consistently remind the public that seeking help early—through hotlines, trusted individuals, or professionals—can save lives.
The lesson of Blue Monday is not that one Monday is uniquely dark. Emotional strain grows from everyday realities that extend far beyond a trending hashtag. Mental health authorities agree that depression and anxiety are complex conditions that demand accurate information, sustained support, and accessible care.
In the Philippine setting, where financial pressure, social expectations, and limited services often intersect, the greater risk lies not in acknowledging distress, but in normalizing silence and fatalism.
The most responsible response to Blue Monday is therefore to reject its myth while using its moment—to check in on others, to access policies and services that already exist, and to remember that mental health is not about surviving one “sad day,” but about building daily systems of care, compassion, and access that make it easier to ask for help on any day of the year.
Photo by Emma Van Sant on Unsplash
Editorial Note
Joyful Wellness shares mental health information to encourage awareness, understanding, and self-care. Our content is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, seeking help from a licensed mental health professional or trusted healthcare provider is encouraged.
REFERENCES
UK Mental Health Foundation. Blue Monday: What does it mean for our mental health?
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/blogs/what-does-blue-monday-mean-our-mental-health
Live Science. What is Blue Monday?
https://www.livescience.com/what-is-blue-monday
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Consumer Expectations Survey, Fourth Quarter 2025.
https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Lists/Consumer%20Expectation%20Report/Attachments/24/CES_4qtr2025.pdf
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), cited in BusinessMirror. Intentional self-harm deaths edge up in 2024.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/10/29/intentional-self-harm-deaths-edge-up-in-2024-psa-reports/
World Health Organization (WHO). Depression – Fact Sheet.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
World Health Organization (WHO). Suicide – Fact Sheet.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
Gallup. State of the World’s Emotional Health 2024.
https://www.gallup.com/analytics/349280/state-of-worlds-emotional-health.aspx
Sapien Labs. Mental State of the World 2024 Report.
https://sapienlabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Mental-State-of-the-World-2024-Online-Feb-26.pdf
GMA News Online. Philippines’ mental health quotient worsens in 2024 – study.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/healthandwellness/943137/philippines-mental-health-quotient-worsens-in-2024-study/story/
Republic Act No. 11036. Philippine Mental Health Act.
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2018/ra_11036_2018.html
PhilHealth. Outpatient Benefits Package for Mental Health (PhilHealth Circular 2023-0018).
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/circulars/2023/PC2023-0018.pdf
National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). Crisis Hotline information.
https://www.facebook.com/ncmhcrisishotline/
