As a marketer, I like to think I am “in the know” with awareness days, and whilst there is a national day for pretty much everything, my colleague Angela introduced Conscious to Brew Monday at the end of last year. I can’t believe I’ve been jumping on the “Blue Monday” train for so long.
Every two years, Conscious employees nominate charities to become our charity of the year. Between 2021 and 2023, we supported the fantastic Gympanzees, a Bristol-based charity that aims to build the UK’s first fully inclusive leisure centre. They are over halfway to their £8m goal to open their doors in 2026!
In October 2024, we researched and pitched for some new charities – and this is where Angela told us all about Samaritans initiative Brew Monday.
Blue Monday – I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It’s supposedly the most depressing day of the year – and I get it, kind of. It’s cold and dark, the festive excitement is over, and there’s nothing to look forward to for a couple of months (although my birthday is in January, so I’ve never had a problem feeling excited about something!)
But have you heard of Brew Monday?
Samaritans know that being depressed doesn’t just happen in January and doesn’t just happen on a Monday. And whilst days to recognise mental health are essential, they don’t want to focus on how depressing the day is; they want to focus on the people you have around you to support you through a tough time.
So, grab a cuppa and sit down to listen on Brew Monday (or any time needed for you, your family, friends or colleagues). A simple message can mean a lot to someone going through a difficult time.
If you aren’t sure how to ask someone if they are ok, have a look at the SHUSH active listening tips:
- Show you care - focus on the other person, make eye contact, and put away your phone.
- Have patience - it may take time and a few attempts before a person is ready to open up.
- Use open questions - use open questions that need more than a yes or no answer.
- Say it back - check you’ve understood, but don’t interrupt or offer a solution.
- Have courage - try not to be put off by a negative response and remember, you don’t have to fill every silence.
At Conscious, we are delighted to be supporting Samaritans as our charity of the year for 2025 and 2026.
If you need to contact a Samaritan, please head to https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/