What comes to mind when you think of mental illness? Prior to my psychology career, my perception of mental illness was influenced by the frightening portrayals in the films A Beautiful Mind, Identity and Monster. My reactions were confusion, compassion, fear and a note to myself to keep my distance.

For those who haven’t watched this movie yet – this is your official spoiler alert!

Your holiday festivities are over, a long and cold winter stretches ahead of you, you’re back to work with almost no vacation days left and you just got your VISA bill in the mail - and no, you didn’t ‘win your purchases.’ If this is the case, you may be at risk of what I like to call Post Holiday Depression Syndrome - aka the winter blues.