As Blue Monday (16th January) approached – an annual occurrence coined as ‘the most depressing day of the year’ – YMCA Bournemouth  encouraged its local community to take advantage of a range of low-cost health and fitness activities in their area to help improve mental wellbeing.

Nick Gillespie, The Junction’s Centre Manager at YMCA Bournemouth commented: “Unfortunately, the hype around Blue Monday has seen no signs of waning over the years and we are continually reminded of its negative connotations through emerging news stories.

“Giving such a day so much prominence can be harmful in itself as we’re almost encouraged to feel unhappy. More needs to be done to change perceptions around Blue Monday as ‘the most depressing day of the year’ and instead, promote accessible methods in which anyone can improve their mental wellbeing.”

YMCA Bournemouth has seen record demand for its health and fitness services over the past year. More than 5,000 adults are now signed up as members of The Junction Centre in Broadstone – with an average of 100 new members signing up per month. Fitness class attendees exceeded 32,000 attendees in 2022, while more than 900 children per week took part in the charity’s swimming academy.

Nick Gillespie continued: “We believe health and fitness activities can do wonders for mental health. By using our facilities at The Junction, the feel-good factor doubles as members can improve their own wellbeing while supporting our work. Membership fees contribute to our wider operations, including our one-to-one counselling sessions, housing support, and youth club activities.

“We’re calling on our local community to help us create a more positive narrative around Blue Monday and empower people to find help if they need it. Together, we can raise awareness of the diverse range of support options available, such as physical wellbeing activities and seeking professional guidance.”

To find out more about YMCA Bournemouth, visit: https://www.ymcabournemouth.org.uk/