On the third Monday of every January, Samaritans like to say, ‘Out with the blue and in with the brew!’
What is Brew Monday?
Monday the 20th of January marked another Brew Monday for the Bognor Regis, Chichester & District Samaritans. Brew Monday is a national campaign involving all the branches of the Samaritans across the country. It was created in response to ‘Blue Monday’, a name coined by Sky Travel for the third Monday of January, which the company claimed to be ‘the most depressing day of the year’.
Of course, ‘Blue Monday’ is nothing more than a myth. There is absolutely no scientific evidence behind it. Sky Travel invented the day simply to sell holidays. While this time of year can be difficult, there is no one day of the year that can be named the ‘most depressing’; people can feel low at any point during the year, not just on a Monday in January.
However, the idea of Blue Monday has unfortunately caught on, oversimplifying a very complex matter and contributing to unhelpful preconceptions about mental health. And so, to combat all the negativity associated with the day, Samaritans launched ‘Brew Monday’.
On Brew Monday, Samaritans encourages everyone to catch-up with friends, family, and colleagues over a cuppa, especially if it’s a person they haven’t spoken to in a while or who may be going through a hard time. It’s a day that highlights how important it is to reach out to others and begin a conversation with someone who may be struggling.
When someone is overwhelmed with negative emotions, they can feel very lonely, but if they know another person is there to lend an ear, it can make them feel much better. Initiating that first conversation can be difficult, but it can make all the difference.
A simple, friendly chat could change their day for the better, and it could possibly change their life. That’s the power of listening, which all Samaritans volunteers know so well.
How Bognor Regis, Chichester & District Samaritans celebrated Brew Monday
To help raise awareness of this message, our volunteers set up Brew Monday stalls at both Bognor Regis and Chichester railway stations on Monday morning. We handed out tea bags and offered a friendly hello to commuters, speaking with them about how a simple catch-up can have a huge impact on emotional wellbeing. We also gave out information leaflets with tips on how to reach out and listen empathetically to someone feeling low.
We enjoyed a great morning at both stations. Branch Director Paul Brady said: “Brew Monday is all about connecting with others, so it was lovely to chat with so many friendly people at the station. People experiencing a tough time can often feel that they are alone, but by reaching out, we can show them that is not the case.
“By holding Brew Monday events at railway stations, and by encouraging others to host their own get-togethers, Samaritans is hoping to spread the message of how vital a good catch-up is for mental health. It’s all about letting someone know you are there for them.”
We also joined hundreds of fellow Samaritans branches in celebrating the day on social media. Our X feed was full of #BrewMonday posts and pics, and it was uplifting to see so many others up and down the country spreading positivity by hosting their own Brew Monday events.
Our branch also appeared in the Sussex Express.
If you raised money for the Bognor Regis, Chichester & District Samaritans this Brew Monday, you can pay in your fundraising via our donations page.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be a Monday in January to check in with a friend or family member. Samaritans hopes that the Brew Monday message of connecting and listening will continue to resonate all year round.
