The Conciliation Service Acas is urging employers to be aware of their mental health throughout the year, not just on Blue Monday (20 January), which falls today.
Acas’ helpline reported an increase of almost 20% in mental health calls in the fall and winter months of 2024 compared to the spring and summer.
The helpline received 4143 calls related to mental health between September 2023 – February 2024 compared with 3,501 calls in the months of April, May June, July, and August.
The Blue Monday or “most depressing of the year” is believed to have been coined in 2004 by a business psychology after a travel company asked for a scientific formula that would describe January blues.
Acas recommends that employers prioritise their mental health, regardless of the season. They advise managers to stay in constant contact with their team to see how they’re coping.
Julie Dennis, Acas’s head of inclusive workplaces, said that awareness days were a great opportunity to bring mental health into the spotlight, but employers should prioritize staff mental health all year long.
Employers who create an atmosphere where employees can talk openly about their mental health will be better equipped to help them in the workplace.
Employees must also be proactive in managing their mental health. They should have strategies to cope with stress. Acas offers advice and training to help support and manage mental wellbeing and health at work.
Katharine Moxham is the spokesperson for GRiD (Group Risk Industry Body), which echoed this sentiment.
She said that mental health support should be available all year long. It is not something that can be or should be dealt with in January.
“However, Blue Monday is a reminder to organisations that they need to provide support for their employees, whether it’s general mental health help or for those who develop more serious mental conditions.”
Acas’ advice is based on research by the charity Mental Health UK. This study found that younger employees are more likely to experience burnout and are less likely to tell more senior co-workers that they are struggling.
