Blue Monday – SAD Research
New data from Bigvits shows Google searches for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) hit 15.6 million in 2024, with 23% of Brits looking online for SAD advice.
Meanwhile, a further 11.9 million of us are turning to Google for meditation and mindfulness tips.
Bristol tops the list for searches about Seasonal Affective Disorder (460,200 searches) showing residents there are keen to tackle the Winter blues. In contrast, Newcastle has some of the lowest search levels (312,600), relative to its population.
‘Self Care Sunday’ searches grew by 900% in 2024, reaching 5,000 monthly as more people embrace the trend. Experts say this is a positive step, as more of us are seeking help to stay upbeat during darker months. For the last five years, the data from the family run online wellbeing company shows that SAD searches consistently peak in November and again in January.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): More than 15.6 million annual Google searches in the UK, with peaks in November and January.
Britain's saddest and happiest cities revealed Bristol as the ‘saddest’ and Greater Manchester the 'happiest' (with the least searches for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)) for its population.
Brits made 11.98 million searches for mindfulness and meditation, showing our proactive approach to mental health.
Bigvits new well-being snapshot takes a closer look at search habits around the country - shedding light on which regions seem most curious (or concerned) about the Winter blues.
Northern Ireland shows the highest proportion of SAD searches relative to its population, with 29% of residents (by population) looking for SAD information online.
England and Scotland follow, with roughly 21% and 23% respectively, whilst Wales reports a smaller proportion at about 20.9%.
“It’s obvious from our research that seasonal sadness is a key factor in many Brits’ well-being concerns,” says Dr. Shane Thurlow, PhD and Nutritional Scientist at Bigvits.
“Quality sleep, balanced nutrition, and time in nature can help ease Blue Monday’s impact. Small, steady steps toward wellbeing bring huge rewards.”
He adds: “Despite interest in SAD, the spike in mindfulness, meditation, and ‘Self Care Sunday’ searches in our research reflect a push towards proactive mental health”.
It's not surprising that this time of year often sparks a desire to book holidays.
The prospect of sunshine, adventure, or relaxation provides a much-needed escape from the bleakness of winter. Coupled with enticing travel deals promoted in January sales, many people use Blue Monday as a motivator to plan a trip, lifting their spirits with the anticipation of something to look forward to later in the year.
Take a look at our Travel Planning page if you're looking online for your next holiday.
For anyone seeking support with their mental wellbeing, resources like Mind, the Samaritans (or call 116 123), and NHS helplines offer free, confidential guidance and help.
Data Sources: 2024/2025 Google search volumes analysed by Bigvits.co.uk using Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends.
Content supplied, images Unsplash
