With Christmas and New Year celebrations little more than a distant memory and summer seeming a lifetime away, it’s not surprising that some of us struggle with the blues in January.

The most miserable day of the year is said to be Blue Monday, which this year falls on 20 January. Derived in 2005 using a calculation involving factors such as poor weather, debt problems, low motivation and abandoned new year’s resolutions, Blue Monday is the day people are most likely to feel low.

If you feel the blues creeping up on you, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust has a wealth of information about mental wellbeing on its website including simple tips that everyone can practice to help their boost mood. They include having enough sleep; cutting out caffeine; getting active; helping someone else; eating well; spending time in sunlight; staying social; managing stress and having fun.

For anyone who might need a bit more support, MyWellbeing College offers a range of options, from signposting to social groups that help people to get out and about, to online courses which can support people from the comfort of their own home, to group courses and guided self-help on a range of topics including managing low mood, sleep problems and managing different types of anxiety.

This year MyWellbeing College is also offering specific emotional wellbeing courses for anyone with either Diabetes or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Senior Psychological Therapist at the Care Trust Sharon Edwards said:

“Being diagnosed with a long-term condition like diabetes or chronic fatigue syndrome can impact on you emotionally as well as physically. We want to support people who are feeling blue about their diagnosis or are worried about its effect on their wellbeing. We’re offering support and advice on how to make useful changes to improve anxiety, stress, low mood or sleep problems.”

If you’re registered with a GP in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale or Craven you can enroll free at MyWellbeing College to access any of their interventions, including those for Diabetes and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, as well as free online resources or being signposted to other services.

For more information or to enrol online visit https://bmywellbeingiapt.nhs.uk.