What do the third Monday in January and January 13 have in common?
Both dates are related to depression, a mental disorder that affects millions of people around the world and is characterized by profound sadness, loss of interest, lack of self-esteem and other symptoms that make it difficult to function normally in life.
January 13 marked World Day for the Fight against Depression, an initiative that seeks to raise awareness of this disease, prevent its onset, promote its diagnosis, appropriate treatment and support people who suffer from it and their families. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a common mental disorder. It is estimated that approximately 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression.
On the other hand, the third Monday of January has become popular as Blue Monday, the saddest day of the year. This idea is based on a pseudoscientific formula that takes into account factors such as weather, accumulated debts, time elapsed since Christmas, motivation and other elements. However, this theory has no scientific basis and has been widely criticized by experts, who consider it a marketing strategy that can trivialize depression and generate false expectations.
The reality is that depression does not have a specific day, but can appear at any time and for various reasons, whether biological, psychological or social. Moreover, depression is not the same as sadness, which is a normal and temporary emotion that we all experience when faced with difficult or painful situations. Depression, on the other hand, is an illness that requires professional care and can have serious consequences for the health and quality of life of those who suffer from it.
It is important not to confuse Blue Monday with World Anti-Depression Day, nor to get carried away by the pessimism or consumerism associated with this date.
What really matters is to take care of our mental health, to seek help if we feel depressed or distressed, and to offer our support and understanding to people going through this situation. Only in this way will we be able to face depression, a disease that does not understand calendars or colors.
