Mental Health Awareness Week: Loneliness

Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event when there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to come together to focus on achieving good mental health. 

The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago, and it has grown to become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally.

The theme for 2022: Loneliness

This Mental Health Awareness Week, the focus is on raising awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental wellbeing and the practical steps we can take to address it. 

Many of us will feel lonely from time to time and everyone’s experiences will be different, however 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.

Feeling lonely isn't in itself a mental health problem, but the two are strongly linked. 

Having a mental health problem can increase the chances of feeling lonely, and 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 stress.

How can I manage loneliness?

Here are some tips and suggestions from mental health charity Mind:

• Take it slow: If you've felt lonely for some time, even if you already know lots of people, it can be terrifying to think about trying to meet new people or opening up to people for the first time. But you don't need to rush into anything. For example, you could try doing an online activity where other people attend but you're not expected to interact with them.
• Make new connections: Join a class or group based on your hobbies or interests. Volunteering is also a good way of meeting people, and helping others can also really help improve mental health. 
• Try to open up: If you don't feel comfortable opening up to the people you know, you could try speaking with a therapist or a using a peer support service. At Shoosmiths all colleagues have access to a 24-hour confidential Employee Assistance Programme, as well as a team of Mental Health and Wellbeing Champions, who offer a listening ear and can signpost support. 
• Be careful when comparing yourself to others: It is very hard to stop comparing ourselves to others. We all do it, but it can help to just be aware that things are not always what they seem from the outside. For example on social media, we very often only see what other people want to share about their lives, and this can make us feel like we are the only ones feeling lonely. It's important to remind yourself that you don't know how other people feel when they are alone, or when their social media feeds are turned off. If you're worried that social media might be affecting your mental health, see Mind’s information on online mental health.
• Remember to look after yourself: Eat well, spend time outside and try to get enough sleep.

Sometimes our mental health can feel good, and other times, not so good. That’s okay, but it’s important to be able to recognise when things feel a little too tough to handle and to get the right support when needed.

Read more: Mental Health Foundation - Mental Health Awareness Week 2022