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Get The HeadsUp on Blue Monday
- Youth support service offers advice to help you beat
Blue Monday -
Feeling more depressed about the week ahead than usual?
It could be because Monday, 19th January, is also known
as 'Blue Monday'. HeadsUp, Rehab's mental health promotion project,
which provides a
24-hour text support service and interactive website,
is encouraging young people to beat 'Blue Monday' by promoting positive
mental health
and well-being.
The Monday of the last full week in January was designated
'Blue Monday' by Dr. Cliff Arnell in 2006, a psychologist
formerly of Cardiff University and a specialist in
seasonal disorders. He proposed
a mathematical equation demonstrating that the combination
of bad weather, Christmas debts, fading Christmas memories
and broken New Year resolutions
all contribute to making that Monday the most depressing
day of the year.
Collette Ryan, HeadsUp Project Manager, comments: "The
arrival of the New Year can be a source of renewed
inspiration for people, however, as the excitement
of the holiday season ebbs
away,
it can also pave the way for new worries for young
people around money, relationships and the future.
That is why it is crucial
that they know
that they can turn to HeadsUp when they need it most,
for information and support, whether on Blue Monday
or any other day of the year."
Advice from HeadsUp on how to beat 'Blue Monday'
is available by checking out the Self Help section
of HeadsUp's interactive
website - www.headsup.ie. The section includes
helpful tips and skills
on how
to manage everyday events better with modules developed
by a leading psychiatrist and cognitive behaviour
therapists on:
- Anxiety control training
- Helpful and unhelpful behaviours
- Noticing unhelpful thinking
- Changing unhelpful thinking
- Assertiveness
- Practical problem-solving
- Sleeping better
- Healthy living
- Staying well
Each module consists of an audio file, on screen
graphics and a downloadable workbook and has
been developed in order to enhance young people's lifeskills
and resilience and to
help them to feel better
about themselves and to manage their lives
more effectively.
The website, which was developed with a panel
of youth advisors, also includes a host of
cutting-edge features including Mind Gym
with lots of interactive games and
'Art from the Heart', along
with discussion forums, information on support
services, well-being tips, fact sheets, reviews
and competitions.
In addition, those in need of help or support
services can contact the HeadsUp text service
free of charge by texting HEADSUP to 50424.
The HeadsUp text
service
operated by Rehab
and supported
by Meteor provides information and advice
on a number of areas including sexual health,
sexuality, mental health, suicide, drugs,
abuse and crisis. The free service is available 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year. HeadsUp Text recently
announced details
of an expansion of its service
which now includes details of student support
services at 26 colleges nationwide.
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