Blue Monday

Posted on by

Today is Blue Monday. Allegedly, the most miserable day of the year. Christmas is a distant memory (although the credit card bills might not be), and summer feels years away. The weather is dreary, and the daylight hours still begin to slip away mid-afternoon.

I’m spending this morning at a Total Guide to Swindon event for local businesses. The event will be an upbeat occasion; a perfect antidote to Blue Monday. During my speaking slot, I will talk about two local charities which I work for as a Trustee.

Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind

The first, Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind, offers services to local people in need of support through mental health illness. People are sometimes surprised to learn that local Mind branches are just that, local charities. National Mind quality assures local branches through an affiliate scheme. They don’t, however, offer direct funding to Local Mind Associations. This is an important distinction to be aware of if you plan to offer any support to your own local Mind. Do go directly to the branch to make sure that any fundraising activities are set up to support that branch, rather than Mind as a national charity. Each local branch decides its own priorities, based on the needs of the local population. Your support can make a huge difference.

Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind, Blue Monday, photographer
At an event with Hazel Howe, CEO of Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind – photo taken shortly before the partnership between Swindon and Gloucestershire came into effect

Among other services, Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind offers support through the Five Ways to Wellbeing programme. Rather than talk at length about the programme here, I encourage you to visit the website for more information. Having benefited from the programme myself, during a very difficult time, I can confirm that it really does help as part of a recovery programme. Thanks in no small part to the efforts of the magnificent team at Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind.

Swindon Mentoring and Self Help

The second charity, Swindon Youth Mentoring and Self Help, (SMASH), exists to provide support to children and young people in need. SMASH make a huge difference to the young people they work with. As one of the young mentees said: “what makes the difference is that no one pays my mentor to see me. He turns up week after week to see me. I must be okay if someone does that.”

By taking time to listen, support, and guide their young people, mentors work to help change lives. A major study of high risk young people from 2013, found those with mentors had fewer depressive episodes, were more accepted by peers, had more self-belief, and achieved higher grades at school. It really does take just one person to change a life.

Mentors report their own positive experiences of volunteering with SMASH. From developing new skills, trying different experiences, and meeting people they wouldn’t usually have the opportunity to meet, this is very much a shared journey.

Having been a mentor before becoming a Trustee, I can very much vouch for the mutual benefits of this excellent charity. If you’re in the Swindon area and are thinking of offering some time to volunteering this year, I do recommend SMASH for consideration. Elsewhere, look into your own children and young people’s charities. A small amount of your time could make a world of difference.

  • Laser Quest and bowling were two of the activities 
    I shared with my mentee
  • Coffee and conversation were regular features
    of our meetings

I hope my talk today will give attendees something to think on, beyond Blue Monday.

And Finally ….

Please remember, you are never alone. If you need to talk to somebody urgently, the Samaritans have trained teams available all day, every day. Call them free from any telephone on 116 123.