Samaritans volunteers hoping to debunk the myth of "Blue Monday" have handed out free tea bags in Devon. Keen to dispel the myth of 20 January being "the most depressing day of the year", the charity launched its local Brew Monday campaign to encourage people to get people together over a cup of tea.

Blue Monday originated from a publicity stunt, but seasonal affective disorder is a real affliction that affects millions of people. There are ways to treat it.

The third Monday of each January has been dubbed "Blue Monday," known as the most depressing day of the year. But is this actually the case?

Since British psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall came up with a mathematical formula that sought to explain the January blues back in 2004 – and then the big wigs at Sky Travel invented 'Blue Monday' as a marketing ploy to encourage holiday bookings – the third Monday of the month has been affectionately dubbed 'the most depressing day of the year.

Blue Monday is the unofficial holiday recognizes the post-holiday slump that often leaves people feeling down.