Blue Monday? Think of today as more of a "blue period"

Taking place today, January 15, Blue Monday is a commercialized way of recognizing the most depressing day of the year.

While the day does represent a great opportunity to tackle the topic of winter blues and seasonal depression, program director for the Canadian Mental Health Association in Rosetown Carmen Ledding feels there is a better way of looking at "Blue Monday" as a whole.

"I thought it was great to begin conversation around Blue Monday, and I think it's better for us to think about the period after Christmas in general, thinking like January, to especially March, as a 'blue period'." detailed Ledding. "A lot of people are coming down after the highs of Christmas, but there are also people who have been isolated, and didn't get to experience the highs of Christmas."

Ledding shared those feelings can tend to compound as the weather gets colder. Most years the winter would have been set in well-before Christmas, and Ledding believes that with the cold weather this year any feelings associated with this blue period have become exacerbated. 

Last week we shared a whole swath of programming headed around west-central Saskatchewan courtesy of CMHA Rosetown.

• CMHA Rosetown continuing to span the region with support

Ledding talked about the blue period being a perfect target for a few different CHMA presentations to address these issues.

"I feel this is timely to talk about how we move from talking about loneliness and isolation, into positivity and optimism." said Ledding, who will be taking a presentation on the topic to a pair of schools around the region. "This is another course that we offer at SK Hope Learning Centre, and I will be presenting on January 22, at Plenty School, and then I will also be presenting on February 15 at Kindersley Composite School."

The premise of the course is to teach participants that negative emotions are normal, just like positive emotions.

"What happens is that sometimes we get in rigid, narrow thinking of only looking at the negative, because our brains are trying to keep us safe," explained Ledding. "We just have to be able to tell ourselves that this is normal, it's temporary, and that better days are to come."

Ledding believes this mindset is the key to working through any winter blues affecting the mind.

"That's kind of in a nutshell what I would think is good to talk about. Especially for people who might be experiencing a 'blue period' right now, it's important to remember these feelings are normal, and it's more common than they realize."

Program Director Carmen Ledding (File Photo)

Wrapping up our topical conversation, Ledding shared more on another mental health event taking her to Kindersley. The CMHA Rosetown team will be present for the Kindersley Jr. Klippers game on Friday, February 9.

"Basically the point of the awareness day is to highlight the 'Talk Today' program." began Ledding on the nationwide CMHA program that works to provide suicide awareness training to junior aged hockey players in leagues like the SJHL. "Really open up the conversation about mental health, and how to pivot any of your teammates towards necessary supports if you feel they are at risk, or if they are showing signs and symptoms that they may consider harming themselves."

Ledding says the team has welcomed the idea in with open arms. It was a wonderful response when Ledding spoke to the team at the tail-end of 2023, and a few of the Klippers players even volunteered to share their own experiences with mental health, first-hand or not.

"The game day is going to be a great opportunity to present both on social media, and in-person that, 'hey, this is something we need to talk about'. We need to be willing to talk in society about mental health, and suicide awareness, so that people seek out supports before they are in crisis."

Whether its for athletes or everyday people, Ledding and CMHA are proving there is no shortage of help out there. Another opportunity to speak on mental health is coming up at the end of February, as Ledding will be in Eston all day as part of a "Do More Ag" mental health program. The agriculture specific presentation will be more of a mental health "first aid" opportunity for producers in the crowd.

With January fully booked, and February taking Ledding on the road, you can expect a check-in with the mental health professional after whatever blue period passes here to begin 2024.