A British charity is calling on tweeters to offer tips on how to beat the blues on the most depressing day of the year.
Today, the third Monday in January, is often referred to as the most depressing day of the year due to the weather, debt and time passed since Christmas.
Platform 51 is calling on users of social networking site Twitter to reveal what they do to cheer themselves up on the day also known as '”Blue Monday”.
The charity, which supports women and girls suffering from mental health problems, made the call as part of its ongoing mental health campaign.
Rebecca Gill, director of policy, campaigns and communications at Platform 51, said: “While many of us feel a little low on Blue Monday and enjoy reading about the ways we can perk ourselves up, for many people across the country this feeling does not disappear when Tuesday comes.”
The charity’s research suggests one in four of those on antidepressants have been using them for 10 years or more with a quarter not receiving a medication review in the past year.
A Co-operative Pharmacy report also suggests that there has been a 25 per cent rise in antidepressant use since the start of the recession.
Ms Gill added: “We are calling on the government to urgently review the use of antidepressants to ensure that they are not the first and only port of call for tackling mental health problems.
By signing our Platform 51 petition you are helping women and girls get the specialised support they need with their mental health problems.”
To offer tips for Blue Monday tweet platform51 or for more information visit www.platform51.org.