Depression cannot be pinned down to one day and for many young people experiencing clinical depression the concept of Blue Monday trivialises a condition that is debilitating.

There is however some evidence that some individuals may experience recurring depression timed to be in winter, also termed Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) although this diagnosis has been and continues to be debated to varying degrees in research.

Moreover, the ‘come down’ period after Christmas in January may also affect the mental health of young people. However, to understand depression we shouldn’t pin it down to a day or a season, but rather try and understand what contributes to low mood and what steps we can take to change it.

Understanding depression comes down to:

• Understanding its biological nature e.g. inherited factors, light changes in the dark months, vitamin D levels, and the effects of lethargy
• Understanding trigger factors e.g. stress, exams, and friendships
• Understanding thinking patterns e.g. negative thinking and ruminative thinking

Depression is very treatable and with the right early support there will be light at the end of the tunnel. So, if a young person’s low mood is severe and has lasted for more than a few weeks, stem4 advises seeing a GP who can help assess and direct to the right treatment. An early diagnosis and early help will benefit recovery.