Charity Aims To 'Brighten Up Blue Monday'

A local mental health charity is using 'Blue Monday' to raise awareness about depression.

Blue Monday is the name given to the 'most depressing day of the year' which falls on the third Monday in January.

AWARE has teamed up with businesses and schools across Northern Ireland to 'Brighten up Blue Monday'. It is asking participants to wear something yellow into the workplace and schools to bring vibrancy and colour into what can seem like a particularly dull day.

One company taking part in the initiative is one of Northern Ireland's largest private sector employers, Firstsource.

Laura Hourcian, VP HR UK for Firstsource said: "We understand that a healthy workforce is a happy workforce. And, as a business we continually invest in our employees and provide a number of programmes that address mental health within the workplace. We are delighted to be working with AWARE to proactively help and support employees dealing with these issues."

Every participant taking part is donating £2 to AWARE in order to allow the charity to carry out its vital work in helping the one in four local people who will suffer from a mental illness at some time in their life.

Teresa Sloan from AWARE said: "Although this is a recognised date in the calendar, for people suffering from stress, anxiety or depression any day of the year can feel like Blue Monday, therefore it's important that you are aware of the most common symptoms of depression."

(CD/LM)