Hashtag #BlueMonday
So it's 3 weeks into 2017 and today apparently has been given the blessing of being the most depressive day of the year #BlueMonday. Thousands of 'positive vibe' tweets were posted in counter action, sentimental Facebook updates were uploaded and informed reader to share or else your an ignorant person basically and radio stations were quick to penetrate the crisp morning air informing us of the day and unhelpful statistics.
It all seems a tad surreal then when you reach the end of the day and the majority of the population will go to bed not giving it another thought waiting to see what tomorrow brings. All except for that other growing population who generally do suffer from depression, anxiety or one of the many other mental health problems. For these people today probably was no different - they were still surrounded by the same feelings, invasive thoughts and raging plea that their pain would go away.
These people probably remain very under the radar and hidden and quite frankly don't give two shits that for some reason or another the third Monday in January every year now deserves a name just to create a new obsession and trend for people to shout about most likely to promote themselves or their brand.
It's all a game really.
Whilst Teresa May may insist the issues surrounding mental health are being addressed and more funding is being applied the stigma and reality around mental health is very real and one which shouldn't be used for another publicity saga.
The amount of tweets posted telling people to think positively, the amount of Facebook posts telling people to share a statement to increase awareness and the help out there that was published is all a load of bullshit because ultimately it is all very unhelpful and unaccessible to the average joe suffering.
It's another day for media to hype up a noise and then do nothing about it.
By no means am I professional in the field and by no means do I mean to criticise those who want to help but sadly it's a never ending battle that has evolved in this world as quickly as the media and technology.
It just seems ridiculous that we have to name a day #BlueMonday! It is giving justification for those people who are just narked that they are back at work after too much eating and too much drinking and possibly back in a place they don't want to be. Justification that people have seen their bank balance and are not sure how they will make it to the end of the month. Or realised that by going back to their flat / home away from their family they actually feel quite lonely and that they are a failure because they are not in a successful relationship. But this isn't depression. This is life.
We do all need to work together to beat the stigma surrounding mental health problems and the hideously painful diseases themselves but also at the same time some people including the media do need to back off as often it has a counterproductive effect making these people feel even worst.
As I said I am no professional. I am simply sharing my opinion based on the facts and experiences surrounding my life.
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