Loneliness, social isolation and COVID-19, LGA/ADPH

The Local Government Association (LGA) and Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) have jointly produced this practical advice for Directors of Public Health and others leading the local response to the loneliness and social isolation issues arising from the COVID-19 outbreak. Read advice here

Loneliness a leading cause of depression in older adults

 Loneliness is responsible for 18% of depression among people over 50 in England, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

Read ScienceDaily article here

Read Lancet Psychiatry full text article here

Loneliness predicts development of type 2 diabetes

 New research has shown for the first time that people over 50 who report higher levels of loneliness are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

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Telephone befriending: a valuable service during lockdown

 In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Healthwatch Enfield staff and volunteers staffed a telephone befriending scheme from April to August 2020. This report gives a snapshot of issues raised by residents identified as being vulnerable or at risk. It highlights the impact of social isolation on health and wellbeing including mental health issues on residents, with those with on-going health needs being particularly affected.

Read Healthwatch Enfield report here

How has Covid-19 affected loneliness?, What Works Centre for Wellbeing

 This briefing highlights findings from the Covid Social Study, as part of ongoing data analysis work with University College London. This study has surveyed more than 70,000 people since March 2020, asking different questions about their experiences and wellbeing over the past few months, including asking people about loneliness.

Click here for briefing

The Psychology Of Loneliness: Why It Matters And What We Can Do

Read King's Fund blog here for report

Life after lockdown: tackling loneliness

Read The British Red Cross article here

Impact of children's loneliness today could manifest in depression for years to come

A rapid review into the mental health impacts of loneliness on children and young people concludes that there could be a spike in demand for mental health services in the years to come.
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Loneliness Found to Be More Common in Young People, Men, Certain Societies

A new large-scale global study finds that young people, men, and people of specific cultures or societies report higher levels of loneliness.
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Almost a quarter of adults living under lockdown in the UK have felt loneliness

Almost a quarter of adults living under lockdown in the UK have felt loneliness, raising concern about long-term risk to mental health: Mental Health Foundation Longitudinal Study. Read study here

Reasons for Loneliness May Differ by Generation

New research suggests loneliness persists in equal measure among various generations. However, the origin of feeling lonely may be different over the course of life.
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Faith groups can tackle loneliness, says report

NATIONAL initiatives to tackle loneliness should include faith-based communities and organisations, a report on how religious groups combat the problem suggests. In addition, the groups should ensure that their activities are known to public services and other organisations fighting loneliness, it says. Read Church Times article here

Serious loneliness spans the adult lifespan but there is a silver lining

Moderate to severe loneliness can persist across adult lifespans, but researchers found it is particularly acute in three age periods: late-20s, mid-50s and late-80s. Wisdom proved a protective factor. Click here to read ScienceDaily article

An overview of reviews: the effectiveness of interventions to address loneliness at all stages of the life-course

This review is the first of its kind to establish what we know about loneliness and effective ways to tackle it. It is a first step to develop the evidence, revealing big gaps in the current evidence base.  Click here to read further.