The January Blues

[Sarah]

After the celebrations of the festive season, many people feel low when going back to work. Professor Cary Cooper from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology has now given a name to such feelings of gloom: acute post-bank holiday depression syndrome.

Though Professor Cooper says the cure for the syndrome lies in having an extra day's holiday on 2 January, for many it is still a bleak month. According to The Samaritans, suicide levels are at their highest at the beginning of the year.

'There is a great deal of pressure to be enjoying yourself [in the festive season], and, for some, the anticlimax of New Year can hit particularly hard. We want people to know that we are there to offer emotional support in confidence, 24 hours a day, every day of the year,' says Simon Armson, chief executive of The Samaritans.

Callers can remain anonymous, and calls are answered by trained volunteers who are there to listen, not judge.

The need for The Samaritans can be seen clearly from the amount of people who call them. In 1999 they received over 4 million contacts from people in the UK. Callers don't even have to speak if they don't want to: around 1.7 million of the calls were silent contacts.

One of the biggest myths about suicide is that talking about it actually encourages suicidal people to take their lives. In fact, allowing someone to talk through their worst fears can make the difference between them choosing to live rather than die. Suicidal people are not determined to die; many callers to The Samaritans just don't want to continue living the way they are.

The Samaritans' tips to beating the blues

1. Don't give yourself a hard time.

Don't blame yourself if you're not feeling great.

2. Spot the signs of trouble.

If the future seems bleak, and you have lost interest in everything, you need to take stock of your situation. Also watch out for the following signs of emotional distress:

# difficulties getting to sleep

# problems eating

# excessive drinking

# being anxious

# being angry.

Emotions are your body's signal that something is wrong. If you feel moody, don't give yourself a hard time. Take it seriously and take action.

3. Look after yourself.

If your body is fit, your mind is more able to cope. So:

# eat sensibly and get plenty of sleep

# don't rely on alcohol or drugs to get you through

# take exercise to raise your mood

# take time out for yourself

# give yourself the occasional treat - you deserve it!

4. It's good to talk.

Talking your problems through with someone else will help. Don't let your pride stop you seeking help. Find someone you trust, who will keep what you have told them confidential, then tell them all about your problems.

Unexpressed emotions stop you coping with everyday life. Once you talk about them, you will find you have got more energy, you think more clearly and you are more able to cope.

5. Ask for help.

Know when you need to get help, and don't be afraid of asking: it is a sign of strength, not weakness. If you want to talk � about anything that is bothering you - you can get in touch with The Samaritans at any time of day or night. They won't tell you what to do, and they won't tell anyone you called. But they will listen for as long as you need.

How can I contact The Samaritans?

You can contact The Samaritans by any of the means listed below. They also have special services for prison inmates and military personnel, details of which can be found on their website.

By telephone

# National telephone helpline: 08457 90 90 90.

# Textphone for people with hearing or speech difficulties: 08457 90 91 92.

By email

The Samaritans receive over 400 emails a week, and try to answer each message within 24 hours. The email service seems to reach the most desperate: 53 per cent of messages via the Internet are from people expressing suicidal thoughts compared with 26 per cent of telephone calls.

Send a message to jo@samaritans.org.

Call or visit your local branch

There are over 190 branches of The Samaritans in the UK. Call your local branch direct, or visit them to speak face-to-face. Details can be found in the phone book, or on The Samaritan's website.

By post

Every letter received will be sent to a volunteer who will respond directly, in complete confidence.

Write to: Chris, PO Box 90 90, Stirling FK8 2SA.

[PawPrints]

you dont need the samaritans if you got a sibe that my opinion anyways they always keep you busy and happy.. crap sound mushy well first and last on here!