Blue Monday and holistic healing
Today is Blue Monday, originally dubbed so by an airline agency as a marketing ploy, but now seen by many as an opportunity to recognize mental health challenges at this time of year.
Post-holiday season, many of us experience the January blues. In Toronto, we get barely 9 hours of daylight around this time, recent new year goals can cause pressure to commit to new habits (and maintain them), and the cold months may feel especially long. Conditions such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) creep in, and for those dealing with depression, this time of year can be especially draining. The lack of sunshine and dwindling energy can insidiously leave their mark, making simple day-to-day chores and social commitments feel daunting or beyond our capacity.
So even though “Blue Monday” has no scientific basis, we know that mental health struggles are very real, and that talking about them can help to work through them and share tools for healing. With that in mind, we would like to look at holistic ways to observe and cope with this time of year, outside of a Western mindset.
“One thing I was taught is that winter is a time to reflect and to replenish your mind and your body, just like many animals do this time of year,” says James Jones, an Indigenous Canadian artist whose Instagram account @notoriouscree illuminates Cree teachings, culture and healing. In his post from January 3rd he talks about how moving to the city made him associate winter with staying indoors and negative thoughts, but in recent years going on hikes in cold weather helped him accept the “discomfort” of winter. “Mother Nature offers so much in all the seasons there’s always good medicine to be found,” he writes.
This holistic outlook is also linked to the winter solstice, which occurs on Dec 21, marking the beginning of winter and the shortest day of the year. Many Indigenous cultures observe the solstice as a time of rest and inner contemplation. “It is time for the people to replenish their spirit. It is time for them to dream,” says Wilfred Buck, an Opaskwayak Cree Nation elder. Observing the interconnectedness of nature, the galaxy and how it impacts us all can also teach us lessons about community and self care.
Inspired by these teachings, our staff came together this winter to create art from gathered materials found in the natural world. Collected over the course of the year, following the principles of the Honourable Harvest – described by Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer in her book, Braiding Sweetgrass – we used flowers, twigs and leaves to create intentional art on themes of self-love, connection and healing. Some of these pieces, which we are sharing on Instagram throughout the month, live in our clinic restorative space. This is a quiet room for clients and staff to rest, and reflect if they so choose, away from the hustle of the day.
We know that as abortion providers, showing up for our clients and our communities means being centered in ourselves and practicing self-care, which aligns with decolonial Indigenous views. Slowing down, looking inward and looking to nature are ways we can gently but purposefully show compassion towards ourselves and each other. We hope these gentle reminders help you through this period, and that you have access to the resources you need to get through blue times and winter months.
Below are a list of community resources if you are struggling:
Woodgreen Counselling Services
Black Health & Wellness Hub – The 519
Distress Centers of Greater Toronto