Social Isolation and Loneliness

Loneliness is also a common emotion and it is likely that, at some point in our lives and whatever our age, we will experience it. Various studies estimating the levels of loneliness in Great Britain show that 5 – 16% of people aged 65 or over report feeling lonely all or most of the time and up to a further 30% say they feel lonely “sometimes”.  Loneliness and social isolation are harmful to our health: research shows that lacking social connections is as damaging to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad, 2015).

Certain risk factors increase the likelihood of someone experiencing loneliness. These include living in rural environments with poor transport connections, having a lack of family nearby, having a caring responsibility, living on a low income, bereavement, poor mobility, losing hearing and/or sight, and having certain long-term conditions (such as dementia), as well as a range of other possible characteristics, situations, or experiences. Sometimes, a person experiences multiple risk factors simultaneously.

Source – Campaign to End Loneliness

Very Brief Intervention

Ask

How often would you say you take part in hobbies or social activities?

Do you have any particular hobbies or outside interests that you enjoy doing?

Are you happy with the way you spend your time?

Do you have a network of friendships and relationships?

  • Is this via telephone contact, social media or in person etc

Do you have a close friend or family member that you could turn to for support if you needed it?

Would you feel comfortable asking for help at any time from friends of family?

Would you rather spend your time?

  • On your own?
  • With family?
  • With friends?

Would you say that your relationships are as you would want them to be?

  • Facilitate a conversation about loneliness, using the skills and qualities of empathy, openness, warmth and respect, and help people to understand their own circumstances and plan their own solutions.
  • Allow the person to tell their story, to review their loneliness and what is happening now.

Assist

What would you like to be doing differently, and how would that make your feel?

Is there anything you would like to change about the way you spend your time?

Can I give you some information to help support the opportunities we discussed?

Would these things make a difference to you?

  • The goals should be the individual’s
  • Help the person identify the incentives in tackling their loneliness: what benefits will accrue for the person? Are there factors that make change necessary?

Act

Self Care

Although most people need some kind of social contact to maintain good mental health, everyone has different social needs. A person may be someone who is content with a few close friends, or they may need a large group of varied acquaintances to feel satisfied.

The simplest way to ease feelings of loneliness can be to try to meet more, or different, people. 

  • Can they think of anything they are interested in, a class or a group they have heard of, that could help connect them with new people? The Red Cross can help you connect with your local community and meet new friends. They also have a free confidential support line you can contact for advice on loneliness support- 0808 196 3651
  • Volunteering is a good way of meeting people. Helping others can also really help improve mental health. 
  • Join an online community.

It doesn’t really matter who you talk to first. Some ideas would include: a friend, family member, anonymous listening service like  Samaritans, student union welfare rep, personal tutor, students support services staff member, counsellor, or doctor. Decide who is the best person for you to talk to first. Be realistic about what each person can offer. If it doesn’t work out, try someone else. Talk to more than one person. 

See useful contacts on the Mind website for some suggestions on finding a community group, an organisation to help find a volunteering opportunities or to find other groups.

The Coronavirus (Covid-19) and Loneliness, What can you do to support people in your local community?

It is particularly important for people who

  • are 70 or over
  • have a long-term condition
  • are pregnant
  • have a weakened immune system

People in these groups have been asked to apply social distancing, you can support people who are doing this by asking if you could:

Pick up shopping, drop off a letter to post, collect a prescription, give a them a friendly call, or even add them to a local community What's app group.  

Website: Help your neighbours - #viralkindness contact card

Covid Aid 

Covid Aid works with a diverse range of organisations that provide advice and assistance to those affected by Covid-19. You can search for available support on their website or contact them directly if you need more help. 

Website: Covid Aid – The UK's National Covid-19 Charity – Coronavirus Support | covid:aid (covidaidcharity.org)

Loneliness in Older People

The Silver Line 

A free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people. The Silver Line can also put people in contact with community activities in your local area.

Telephone: 0800 470 8090 - Open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Website: https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/

Age UK 

The Age UK Advice Line is a free, confidential, national phone service for older people, their families, friends, carers and professionals, which is open 365 days a year (8am-7pm). You can contact them, if you're feeling lonely or need some practical help and support. This organisation also offers a befriending service to support loneliness in later life, this is where a volunteer visits an older person once a week in their own home.  There is also telephone befriending, where a volunteer befriender will phone an older person.

Telephone: 0800 678 1602 (8am-7pm, 365 days a year)

Website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/befriending-services/  

NHS Choices

NHS Choices has a range of advice on Loneliness including volunteering, continuing education and how to engage with social media and computers.

Website: Loneliness in older people - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Andy's Man Club

Andy's man Club are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. Their goal is to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation.

Meeting every Monday from 7pm (excluding Bank Holidays)

No referral or sign up required. Find your nearest group | Andy's Man Club (andysmanclub.co.uk)

Their clubs are open to any man aged 18 or over. 

Website: http://andysmanclub.co.uk

Loneliness in Younger People

It is recognised that Loneliness is not something that is exclusive to older adult, indeed many younger adults in particular can experience loneliness and a recent report from the office for national statistics highlighted Britain as the loneliest capital of Europe.  

Samaritans

Providing mental wellbeing support nationally, including crisis support and confidential suicide prevention advice. Any time, from any phone, for FREE. 

Telephone: 116 123, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Website: Contact Us | Samaritans 

Get Connected

A free confidential helpline for young people under 25, where people can seek help with emotional and mental health issues often linked to loneliness. The service is available 365 days a year and young people can get in touch by phone, webchat, email, text message or use the online help directory, WebHelp 24/7.

Telephone: 0808 808 4994 

Website: https://rethinkyourmind.co.uk/get-connected/

The Mix

The Mix provides a free, confidential helpline that gives young people in difficult situations the support and information they need to decide what they want to happen next. It could be anything from mental health, to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. The mix can help with the feeling of loneliness, it is pretty commonplace and there are tonnes of young people feeling this way, even with social media.

The Mix is for young people who know they need help but don't know where to find it. You can contact them on social, by phone or by webchat. 

Telephone: 0808 808 4994 (4pm-11pm Mon-Sat)

Website: https://www.themix.org.uk/

Local Support and Contact Details