Health Benefits

Many governments are now taking action to deal with the growing issue of social isolation.

In fact, England was the first country to appoint a Loneliness Minister, and to develop a cross-government strategy that recognises the need to establish new ways of tackling loneliness.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/loneliness-minister-its-more-important-than-ever-to-take-action

https://linkinglives.uk/wp-content/uploads/formidable/6/Psychology_of_Loneliness_FINAL_REPORT.pdf

Ref: The Psychology of Loneliness: Why it matters and what we can do. Campaign To End Loneliness

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Mens Sheds

Mens Sheds are about having fun, sharing skills and knowledge with like-minded people, and gaining a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. As a by-product they reduce isolation and feelings of loneliness, they allow men to meet, talk, socialise, have a laugh, and to share their worries. In this way, they help individuals to deal with mental health challenges more easily, and to remain independent, they rebuild communities and in many cases, they save men’s lives.

https://menssheds.org.uk/about/what-is-a-mens-shed/

Ref: Mens Shed Association UK

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Post-Covid

People in Britain continue to be more lonely today than before Covid-19, despite the ending of social restrictions, according to the Campaign to End Loneliness.

https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/press-release/new-analysis-from-campaign-to-end-loneliness-reveals-people-are-more-chronically-lonely-now-than-before-covid-19/

Ref: Published during Mental Health Awareness Week, by 'Campaign To End Loneliness'

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Elderly Loneliness Statistics 2021:

• 27% of seniors live alone, totalling more than 14.7 million people (5 million are men)
• Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of dementia by 50%,
• Other health risks related to loneliness include:
  • Stroke - Risk increases by 32%
  • Heart disease - Risk increases by 29%
  • Mental Health disorders: Risk increases by 26%
  • Premature mortality: Risk increases by 26%

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/health/elderly-loneliness-statistics.html

Ref: Consumer Affairs, 'Elderly Loneliness Statistics', 2021 Survey Report.

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Loneliness and isolation: Social relationships are key to good health.

​"...social isolation is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, in part, because social isolation and feelings of loneliness can be a physical or psychosocial stressor resulting in behaviour that is damaging to health, such as smoking."

https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2015/12/08/loneliness-and-isolation-social-relationships-are-key-to-good-health

Ref: UK Health Security Agency, Gov.UK, 12th June, 2022.

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Mental health and loneliness: the relationship across life stages.

"...These recommendations indicate that there could be an important role for the community and voluntary sector to play in supporting people experiencing loneliness and mental health issues. The wider findings of the study suggest that more initiatives to tackle loneliness could help to alleviate some mental health difficulties. miscarriage, redundancy. These initiatives could be aimed at certain key moments in people’s lives (such redundancy or retirement) which were associated with an increase in loneliness or deterioration in mental health, but were not associated with existing specialist support services.

"...the evidence review has shown that there is an important link between the experience of loneliness and mental health conditions,..."

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-loneliness-the-relationship-across-life-stages/mental-health-and-loneliness-the-relationship-across-life-stages

Ref: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport

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Exploring the experiences of loneliness in adults with mental health problems: a participatory qualitative interview study.

"...They also observed the role that stigma associated with mental health played in not seeking help, and others not providing it."

"...with older people found to be at greater risk of loneliness,..."

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.03.02.22271346v2.full

Ref: A 2022 Qualitative Study: Preliminary Report by Mary Birken et al., Published in MedRXiv.

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