Let’s Talk Loneliness - Loneliness Awareness Week 2022
What is Loneliness Awareness Week?
Hosted by Marmalade Trust, Loneliness Awareness Week is an annual campaign which raises awareness of loneliness and gets people talking about it.
The aim is simple: to reduce the stigma of loneliness and encourage people to talk more openly about it.
Remember - Loneliness can affect anyone. Loneliness is an epidemic.
• Over 9 million adults are often or always lonely
• For Over 3.6 million people over 65, television is the main form of company
• 50% of disabled people will be lonely on any given day
• Over 52% of parents have a problem with loneliness
This year’s campaign highlights the many and varied instances when we feel lonely to normalise the feeling - from childhood, into adulthood and beyond. Loneliness is not just something that 'happens to old people that live on their own'. We all get lonely and we're prone to it happening at certain times in our lives.
Why is it important?
Whilst we’re seeing an increase in discussion on the subject, stigma remains and there are some key misconceptions that still need to be challenged. Ask anyone to picture a lonely person and most will imagine an older person living on their own. As such, we often rebuke and dismiss feelings of loneliness because ‘that doesn’t apply to me’. By identifying and acknowledging all the times that we have personally felt and experienced loneliness, we can start to change our viewpoint, accept it and understand how to take action to manage the feeling (and our social connections) in the future.
Do you ever have ‘That Lonely Feeling’? Here are some of the things happening locally that you can get involved in:
James Starky, Feeling Connected Project Manager, from Derbyshire Voluntary Action told us about how the project can help -
“While it’s hard to lift yourself out of an isolated rut, meeting people who share your passion can make it easier. During Loneliness Week the Feeling Connected Project at The Hub@LowPavement will be gathering ideas for a new programme of activities called ‘Busy Hands’. Busy Hands Workshops will enable people to share and swap their special skills, talents or hobbies. We’re asking everyone if there is something they can share or something they’d always wanted to learn. We’ll help people to run workshops, starting in July. We know that learning from and teaching each other in an informal and supportive environment is a great way to build connections and forge friendships. Come down and chat to Project Manager James, see what others are offering and what you can contribute. Mon-Thurs, 10-3pm. The Hub@LowPavement, 61 Low Pavement Chesterfield.”
Dave Radford, Manager of the Volunteer Centre Chesterfield & NE Derbyshire wants you to get involved in the SWIM AGAINST LONELINESS www.swimagainstloneliness.online -
“The Volunteer Centre’s befriending service offers one-to-one support for people who feel they are lacking social networks and thus not making new friendships or relationships. Our project brings some respite to those who see no one from one day to the next, a glimmer of hope in a long lonely day.
Loneliness causes people to feel empty, alone, unwanted and craving human contact, this is where our befriending project comes into its own. It is vitally important that we maintain these services for the benefit of the lonely and socially isolated people in our communities and all we are asking for is a few lengths of your time. It doesn’t ’t matter how far you swim or how much you raise because every penny will go towards helping someone in the community. Remember – every length will change a life!”
Jonathan Davis from Chesterfield Care Group highlights why loneness is such an issue since lockdowns and what they are doing to help https://chesterfieldcaregroup.org.uk/-
“During lockdown we all developed an understanding of how it feels to be socially isolated, lonely and going weeks on end without company. Many of our service users have experienced this for months or possibly years before finding our service.
At Chesterfield Care Group we have been source of friendship and company for the residents of Chesterfield for over four decades by providing adult social groups. The reason some of our service users attend is because they have become socially isolated, making them increasingly less mobile and while also having a detrimental effect on their mental health.
Our activities range from chair-based exercises, reminiscence activities, crafts, quizzes, music-based sessions, singing and sometimes just a chat and a catch up. We also have a walking group where more physically active service users are able to meet friends while enjoying a walk. We currently have groups in Chesterfield, Brimington and Dronfield.
Our aim is to bring people together by reducing social isolation, improving physical and mental wellbeing and therefore keeping service users in their own homes for longer.”
Lastly Mark Hudson, Group Development Worker, Derbyshire Recovery and Peer Support Service, Rethink explains another fantastic way to find support using the ‘Mental Health Support Map Derbyshire’ -
“This fully interactive Google My Map highlights in one place the pathways and support options for mental health and wellbeing in the county of Derbyshire.”
The Map contains 10 mental health themes offering a wealth of information, follow up links and directions.
• Crisis Support
• Peer Support Groups
• Helpline and Online Support
• Green, Nature, and Outdoor Activities
• Free Mental Health Training
• Community Mental Health Teams
• Counselling Services
• Voluntary Services
• Supportive Organisations
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Information.
This map is free and easy to access. It can be shared through a link or embedded on websites in this case on the Derby and Derbyshire emotional, health and wellbeing website https://derbyandderbyshireemotionalhealthandwellbeing.uk/resources/mental-health-support-derbyshire
“Once opened, the map link can be saved to your favorites for future reference. This Map is an ongoing and fluid project that can be easily edited. For any corrections, updates, edits and additions, please email mark.hudson@rethink.org”
We need to remove the stigma and shame surrounding loneliness. And the best way to do that? Let’s talk about it! Let’s make this the year we accept that loneliness exists.What is Loneliness Awareness Week?