A York charity are aiming to turn ‘Blue Monday’ into a day of positivity instead.
Taking place on Monday 19 January, York Samaritans will be at York train station from 9am to 6pm, handing out tea bags and encouraging people to have a chat.
YorkMix spoke to York Samaritans co-director, Matthew Knight, to find out more.
“Blue Monday was thought up, I think, to pretend that there’s a day in January which is particularly worse for people where we’re all supposed to be fed up and depressed,” said Matthew.
“We’ve tried to really turn that around in the Samaritans and try and be a bit more positive about about it.”
They’re turning Blue Monday into ‘Brew Monday’ – a day that’s taking place all over the country, including York.
“Basically, we give out tea bags, and the idea behind it is, rather than being depressed to come and have a cup of tea, and have a chat. The conversation can help you feel better.
“It doesn’t have to be with the Samaritans, it’s just to engage people in a conversation and get them thinking perhaps that there are different ways of dealing with feeling fed up.”
Matthew emphasises that there won’t be any pressure put on people. “But we’re there if people want to talk about anything.
“If they want to ask about Samaritans, if they just want to have a chat about anything at all, we’re there to do that and just to spread the word that you don’t have to be by yourself.
“You don’t have to be feel that there is no one that you can be in touch with. There is always something that you can do which will help you and make you feel better.”
York Samaritans is a 24/7 service. To find out more, and how Samaritans can help, visit their website here.
