Open house fights those winter blues

An event hosted by Eden Health Care Services will be an opportunity for community members to gather, and also a chance for those who may be feeling down at this time of year to realize they are not alone.

Eden Health Care Services, which offers mental health supports and resources in the Steinbach area, will host an open house event at their Steinbach headquarters on Jan. 15, a day on the calendar that is referred to as Blue Monday because it is said to be one of the most depressing days of the year.

"The reason it is called Blue Monday is because it is one of the days where people feel the lowest," Eden Health Care Services program director for housing and supports Bev Dyck said.

"The lack of sunshine, the lack of daylight and now the cold is affecting people in that it’s forcing people to stay indoors and not be as active, and maybe not getting out or socializing as much."

Dyck said they have decided to hold their open house event on Blue Monday both to create awareness about their organization and what they do, and to create awareness about the kind of mental health issues that can be prominent during the colder and darker months of the year.

"We just want to familiarize the community a little more with what Eden does," Dyck said. "And we decided to do the open house on Blue Monday because we know people may be dealing with feelings of sadness, depression and anxiety at this time of year, and can often feel alone and isolated while they are suffering.

"It is a way of helping people to recognize that, and let them know they are not alone."

The open house event will include refreshments and well as musical entertainment, and Dyck said the event is meant to be a celebration during a time when many can feel down or deal with depression.

"We want to let people know there are things that can be done to help turn that around," she said. "We’re holding a celebration looking for the positives and the others ways of dealing with things when we are feeling down of have those feelings of depression.

"And we’re helping people to know there are resources available to them."

The Eden Health Care Services open house takes place Monday Jan. 15 at 21 Loewen Blvd. in Steinbach during Eden Health Care Services regular business hours.

More information on Eden Health Care Services can be found by visiting edenhealthcare.ca.