Loneliness | Mental Health Awareness Week | 9-15 May 2022
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Imagine a world where people feel supported and connected to society. Wouldn’t that be a dream? But it is far from reality. In the UK, 1.2million older adults feel lonely and?over?half of disabled people reported feeling lonely, rising to over three quarters?(77%)?for those aged 18-34 (Sense 2017).
Our goal is powerful:?a connected society. Where loneliness is recognised and acted on without stigma or shame so that we all look out for one another. To get there requires society-wide change.?
The Loneliness Impact
Feeling lonely can also have a negative impact on your mental health, especially if these feelings have lasted a long time. Some research suggests that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems, including?depression,?anxiety,?low self-esteem,?sleep problems?and increased?stress.?
The impact also extends into your overall health, including:
It’s estimated that between 5% and 18% of UK adults feel lonely often or always. And when we feel socially rejected, it triggers a response in our brain similar to one from experiencing physical pain.
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The most vulnerable
Some research suggests that people who live in certain circumstances, or belong to?particular groups, are more vulnerable to loneliness. For example, if you:
What is loneliness?
Loneliness is not the same as social isolation. People can be isolated (alone) yet not feel lonely. People can be surrounded by other people, yet still feel lonely.?
Feelings of loneliness are personal
One common description of loneliness is the feeling we get when our need for rewarding social contact and relationships is not met. But loneliness is not always the same as being alone.?
What is social isolation?
Social isolation is an objective measure of the number of contacts that people have. It is about the quantity and not quality of?relationships.?People?may choose to have a small number of contacts.?
When they feel socially isolated, this can be overcome relatively quickly by increasing the number of people they are in contact with.?
Social isolation can lead to loneliness and loneliness can lead to social isolation. Both may also occur at the same time.
Being physically present in a community does not equate to people with a learning disability feeling connected with the community or accepted. One?in three people with a learning disability spend less than one hour outside their home on a average Saturday, reported a study by Mencap, 2019.
You may choose to be alone and live happily without much contact with other people, while others may find this a lonely experience.?Or you may have lots of social contact, or be in a relationship or part of a family, and still feel lonely – especially if you don’t feel understood or cared for by the people around you.
When they do get here, they’re in such a hurry that they can’t complete the time they’ve got allocated to spend with my parents, so they might cut things short
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Anonymous
Loneliness is something we will all probably experience in our lifetimes. It’s part of being human.??
Spending time alone is also good for your well-being. Developing the ability to feel comfortable in your own company has the potential to increase self-awareness and resilience.
Fundamentally, it’s about maintaining the balance between enjoying time alone and being socially and emotionally connected.
How can we support others who we suspect might be struggling with loneliness and isolation?
It’s not always clear when someone is struggling or what you can do to be supportive. Be mindful of changes in people’s behaviour, for example, becoming withdrawn or not wanting to be sociable. Don’t underestimate the power of a conversation by offering a listening ear and your presence.
Top tips:
GenieConnect? is combating loneliness
Creating the foundation of inclusion and companionship
The Loneliness Epidemic
Understanding The Effect On Older Adults
Loneliness and social isolation are increasing public health concerns in our ageing community. Whilst these experiences materialise across the life span,?50% of people aged?over 60 are at risk of social isolation, and one-third will experience loneliness later in life. Read the report to discover new ways to combat loneliness.
The Loneliness Epidemic
Understanding The Effect On People With Learning Disabilities
Up to 55% of people with a learning disability experience chronic loneliness. Loneliness is unique, and experiences will affect people differently, but there are some key drivers of loneliness that we can pinpoint for people with learning disabilities. Download the report to learn more.