This coming Monday (19th January 2026) is commonly referred to as ‘Blue Monday’ in many parts of the northern hemisphere. Sadly, this isn’t a reference to New Order’s seminal single but a nod to “seasonal depression”, mired by the end of the holidays and the arrival of credit card bills.
Many people struggle with their mental health during the depths of winter. Often labelled the “most depressing day of the year,” Blue Monday serves as an important reminder to check in on friends, family, and us.
Blue Monday is typically observed on the third Monday of January. The concept was popularised in 2005, based on a formula that calculated the most depressing day of the year, taking into account various factors, including weather conditions, debt levels, time since Christmas, and failed New Year’s resolutions. While the scientific basis of this claim is debated, it has become a cultural reference point for discussing mental health and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during the winter months.
To understand where the shorter and colder days hit hardest, the company iSelect has analysed winter conditions across locations in the UK. Using factors like sunlight hours and humidity, each area was scored from 0 to 100 for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) risk, with 100 indicating the highest impact.
SAD is a type of depression linked to seasonal changes, typically starting in fall/winter and improving in spring/summer, causing low mood, lack of energy, oversleeping, carbohydrate cravings, and social withdrawal due to reduced sunlight affecting brain chemicals.
UK locations most likely to suffer from seasonal depression
| Rank | Location | Avg of High °C | Avg of Low °C | Avg Monthly Sun Hours | Avg Monthly Rainy Days | Avg Monthly Inches of Snow | SAD Score (/100) |
| 1 | Lerwick, Shetland Islands | 6.75 | 2.5 | 36 | 21.5 | 5.55 | 96.36 |
| 2 | Stornoway, Outer Hebrides | 8.25 | 3.25 | 41.5 | 20.25 | 5.15 | 79.18 |
| 3 | Kirkwall, Orkney Islands | 7.5 | 3 | 42 | 19.75 | 4.45 | 78.88 |
| 4 | Glasgow | 8 | 2.5 | 48.5 | 16.75 | 5.475 | 75.59 |
| 5 | Tiree, Inner Hebrides | 8.75 | 4.5 | 48.25 | 20 | 5.275 | 69.23 |
| 6 | Dumfries | 8 | 2.5 | 55.5 | 15 | 4.75 | 65.27 |
| 7 | Prestwick | 8.5 | 2.5 | 50.5 | 15.75 | 3.7 | 60.62 |
| 8 | Inverness | 7.75 | 1.5 | 48.5 | 13.25 | 2.725 | 59.22 |
| 9 | Manchester | 8 | 1.5 | 59.25 | 14.5 | 3.05 | 56.91 |
| 10 | Belfast | 9 | 2.5 | 48.25 | 14.5 | 3.5 | 55.90 |
From the above table:
- Lerwick in the Shetland Islands tops the UK for seasonal depression, recording the highest SAD score of 96.36 out of 100.
- In England, Manchester leads the way with the highest SAD score at 56.91 out of 100.
- Belfast rounds off the top 10 with a SAD score of 55.90 out of 100.
What are the least affected locations?
Weymouth, the Isles of Scilly, and London’s Greenwich area rank among the UK’s least affected by winter blues, with relatively mild temperatures, more sunshine, fewer rainy days, and minimal snowfall. Their lower SAD scores – 22.05, 23.92, and 28.39, respectively – reflect the brighter, milder conditions that make winter easier to bear.
