Norwich, historically known as the home of Alan Partridge, has been given a new, less desirable, distinction: it is now considered the most depressed city in the UK. This gloomy accolade comes from a recent survey conducted by British Gas, which questioned Britons about their mental well-being during the darker winter months.

The survey revealed that a significant one in four (25 per cent) of Norwich residents reported feeling genuinely depressed during mid to late January. They largely attributed these feelings to the prolonged stretches of overcast days and limited midwinter sunlight. Norwich narrowly surpassed other cities in this ranking, with Stoke and Swansea jointly securing second place at 24 per cent each, followed by Manchester at 21 per cent and Edinburgh at 16 per cent.

On a national level, the survey highlighted a widespread struggle with the 'January blues.' Four in ten (42 per cent) respondents confessed to feeling more depressed in January than in any other month of the year. The primary drivers for this sentiment were identified as the cold (47 per cent), endless hours of darkness (37 per cent), and a distinct lack of natural sunlight (34 per cent). More than half (54 per cent) expressed a wish for January to be a cheerier month, with 57 per cent craving more light in their lives. Notably, half of the participants admitted that their tolerance for other people was severely tested during this period.

To cope with these challenging feelings, many respondents reported adopting behaviours that often overlap with symptoms of clinical depression. For instance, 41 per cent spent hours on the sofa, over a third (36 per cent) refused to get out of bed, and 34 per cent actively avoided social situations. Additionally, 24 per cent ignored phone calls, 22 per cent engaged in 'doomscrolling' for hours, and 14 per cent left people on 'read' for days due to their low mood.

While the British Gas survey polled 2,000 people, its findings contribute to a broader understanding of the nation's well-being. This aligns with data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in May of the previous year, which pinpointed the happiest and unhappiest regions in the UK based on annual surveys asking tens of thousands of people to rank their happiness, life satisfaction, anxiety levels, and sense of worth out of 10.

According to the ONS's most recent snapshot, residents of the South West of England were found to be the happiest, scoring an average of 7.6 on the happiness index. This mainly rural area includes Cornwall, Dorset, Devon, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire, with over a third of residents reporting very high levels of happiness (scoring between nine and ten). Conversely, the North East, North West, and West Midlands jointly claimed the lowest happiness scores, averaging 7.3.

In other city rankings, the housing website Rightmove placed Norwich as the 49th best place to live in the UK in November, with Skipton in North Yorkshire taking the top spot.

Globally, a combination of anxiety and depression is estimated to be Britain's most common mental health problem, affecting approximately 8 per cent of the population, a rate similar to that in the US. While occasional low moods are normal, persistent unhappiness lasting for weeks or months can indicate depression, a genuine health condition that can affect anyone at any age. Symptoms vary but can include constant feelings of upset or hopelessness, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, sleep problems, tiredness, low appetite or sex drive, and even physical pain. In severe cases, it can lead to suicidal thoughts. Traumatic events and a family history can increase risk. It is crucial for individuals experiencing these symptoms to seek medical advice, as depression can be effectively managed through lifestyle adjustments, therapy, or medication.