Blue Monday

I would like to start by taking this opportunity to thank every single colleague throughout the business.

You continue to work incredibly hard through extremely difficult circumstances, delivering for our customers. This has been particularly important over the festive period and since the latest national lockdown.

Today, Monday 18 January is labelled by many as ‘Blue Monday.’ Lid publishing are aiming to help people fight the January and lockdown blues by sharing knowledge from some of their mental health and wellbeing titles and podcast interviews with their authors, including myself.

• What to read if you’re feeling down including Positive Male Mind and Positive Mental Health: Goes live at 8am on Monday 18 January. 
• What to listen to if you’re feeling down including Episode 178: How to address loneliness by Andrew Kinder: Goes live at midday on Monday 18 January.

It is thought that the third Monday of each January is coined ‘the most depressing day of the year’ due to broken new year’s resolutions, post-Christmas debt and gloomy weather. This year presents even more challenges for all of us with the ongoing pandemic.

Perhaps the true aim of Blue Monday is to ensure that we all understand the importance of our own and others’ mental health and we are aware that there are numerous steps we can take every day of the year to maintain and protect our mental wellbeing.

All of us should be aware of our mental wellbeing, not just today, but on every day of the year. Low mood, anxiety and other mental health problems can build up over time and poor mental health can affect each of us in different ways at any time throughout our lives.

What we can do to improve our moods, refocus ourselves for 2021 and protect our mental health:

• Keep in touch with friends and family (virtually if required).
• Conversations help to ‘normalise’ mental health issues, which makes talking about them easier for everyone.
• If you’re feeling low, say so – others will often be feeling the same.
• Participate in group activities, challenges or volunteering (these will be focused on online activities due to current restrictions).
• Keep active and ensure you spend some time outside.
• Eat well and drink sensibly.
• Please ask for help if you are struggling.

The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. Support is available. There are many people facing similar challenges to you, so remember to look out for others if you can. Mental health matters.

Help is at hand

First Class Support is free and confidential for employees and includes direct access to counselling services. Call 0800 6888 777, visit www.rmgfirstclasssupport.co.uk or download the ‘Lifeworks’ app. New website/app users can ‘sign up’ using a unique invitation code, which is RMG- and then your payroll number, e.g. RMG-12345678.

Rowland Hill Fund: 0345 600 4586 www.rowlandhillfund.org offers financial aid to colleagues, pensioners and their families in times of need.

Shout Mental Health Text Service is a free, nationwide, 24/7, text based service. Text Shout to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer.

Neyber: Through My Bundle’s Financial Wellbeing option you can access debt consolidation loans and financial education. Log into My Bundle through PSP or visit: mybundle.myroyalmail.com.

NHS Livewell: Visit www.nhs.uk/live-well for advice, tips and tools to help you make the best choices about your health and wellbeing.

Stepchange: Offering expert, tailored advice and practical solutions to problem debt, contact the UK’s leading debt charity on 0800 138 1111 or visit www.stepchange.org.

The National Domestic Abuse helpline is available, including for concerned friends. Call 0808 2000 247 freephone 24 hours a day or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk.

Cruse Bereavement Care: Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or visit www.cruse.org.uk.

For urgent mental health support in a crisis: call the Samaritans on 116 123 (open 24/7) or in the case of a suicide or other emergency situation, ring 999, or 9999 from a Royal Mail landline.

If you are worried that someone is at immediate risk of taking their own life you should stay with that person and take one of the following steps:

• Encourage them to call the First Class Support helpline (open 24/7) or the Samaritans on 116 123 (open 24/7)
• Contact their GP for an emergency appointment or the out of hours support service
• Call their Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) if they have one

Ring 999 (9999 from a Royal Mail landline), NHS direct (111) or go to the nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department.