A series of sunlight billboards have appeared in Manchester city centre today (January 16) brighten up Blue Monday.
The third Monday in January is known as 'the most depressing day of the year,' with the festive cheer well and truly behind us and the cold, miserable weather getting people down. Money worries also factor in, with Christmas spending catching up on us and it feeling like a lifetime until payday.
However, a fleet of new billboards will light up as darkness falls on Manchester this evening. Inspired by seasonal affective disorder (SAD) lamps, the glowing digital billboards have been set up to help boost serotonin, a chemical which aids to improve mood.
Read more: Is today Blue Monday? Why it's the most depressing day of the year
The golden screens, created by advertising company Saatchi & Saatchi in partnership with supplement brand Solgar, will be glowing from 4pm until 8pm. Passers-by are invited to enjoy a moment of "sunshine" by standing in front of the light at Piccadilly Gardens and Printworks in the city centre.
The fun glowing pop up billboards will also be seen simultaneously in commuter hotspots in London and Birmingham.
Many people experience SAD, also known as winter depression, at this time of year. Sufferers may find themselves lacking energy, having a persistent low mood and sleeping for longer than usual.
Other symptoms include feeling more irritable than usual, having difficulty concentrating and a lack of interest or pleasure in everyday activities. According to the NHS, the exact cause of SAD is not fully understood, but it's often linked to reduced exposure to sunlight during the shorter autumn and winter days.
Meanwhile the phrase Blue Monday was actually coined in 2005 by UK travel company Sky Travel. The concept was published in a press release which claimed to have calculated the date based on an equation which included factors live the weather and low motivational levels.
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