The Isle of Man Samaritans are encouraging people to reach out to someone they care about for ’a cuppa and catch up’ for Brew Monday.

Whilst the third Monday in January is sometimes referred to as ’the most difficult day of the year’, the charity wants to highlight that there is no such thing as ’Blue Monday’ as people can feel a range of emotions any day of the year.

Although winter is thought to be one of the harder seasons with dark days and frosty nights, Samaritans volunteers hear similar concerns all year round from those that contact the charity.

From December 2020 to November 2021, 46% of contacts that reached out to Samaritans for emotional support mentioned mental health and illness, 34% mentioned family and 28% mentioned loneliness as a concern.

So, to ensure nobody struggles alone, on Brew Monday or any other day, Samaritans is reminding everyone to check in on friends, family or colleagues.

It doesn’t need to be a Monday or a cup of tea, it’s about connecting and really listening to each other.

Volunteers from Isle of Man Samaritans will be at Cycle 360 in the Isle of Man Business Park in Braddan from midday to 2pm on Monday (January 17) for a Brew Monday event.

Manx Telecom will also be hosting a Brew Monday event in its nearby headquarters.

Samaritans’ Sinead Nudd said: ’As we enter another winter in these difficult times, we are encouraging people to look out for their family, friends and work colleagues and be that listening ear that they might just need. It doesn’t matter if it’s Monday morning or Thursday night, or if you’re drinking lemonade, black coffee or apple juice.

’If you’re sharing a cup of something and listening, you’re making a difference to someone’s day.’

You can join the conversation on social media using #BrewMonday.

For more information, visit Samaritans.org/BrewMonday

l Cycle 360 will also be hosting its first ’coffee club’ social road ride in support of Samaritans this Sunday, January 16.

The casual and social cycle event is open to everyone and anyone andrequires no registration.

Riders are encouraged to turn up at Cycle 360 to ride their bikes and meet other people for a 9am prompt start from the Cycle 360 building in the Isle of Man Business Park.

Riders are invited to return to the Cycle 360 cafe after an hour of riding to refuel on free hot drinks in return for donations to Samaritans.

Cycle 360 managing director Mark Horsthuis said: ’We decided to launch our coffee club social ride in the lead up to Brew Monday to encourage people of all abilities and fitness levels to get together for a social ride followed by a hot drink back at our cafe to help combat the January blues.

’We hope that the coffee club event can help to boost people’s spirits during this bleak time of the year.’

The team are looking to make the ride a monthly event going forward.