Overview
- The label for the so‑called most depressing day, revived for Monday, January 19, 2026, traces back to a 2005 Sky Travel promotion later acknowledged to have no scientific basis.
- Psychiatrist Clément Guillet explains that winter reductions in light can disrupt circadian rhythms, affecting melatonin and mood in ways unrelated to any single January date.
- Seasonal affective disorder is estimated in studies to affect roughly 1% to 14% of people, while transient winter blues may touch about 30%, with SAD marked by persistent low mood, low energy and sleep and appetite changes.
- Light therapy is described as an effective option comparable to antidepressants for seasonal depression, with preventive morning exposure of about 30 to 60 minutes recommended throughout the winter.
- January can feel harder after holiday gatherings end, and research cited by clinicians notes seasonal patterns in severe outcomes, including some studies showing Monday and winter peaks and fewer suicides during strong community events.