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| Talk to neighbours to beat festive loneliness, urges doctor | Talk to neighbours to beat festive loneliness, urges doctor |
| (25 days later) | |
| The Christmas period can amplify feelings of loneliness, according to a senior doctor who has urged people to connect with others in their communities. | The Christmas period can amplify feelings of loneliness, according to a senior doctor who has urged people to connect with others in their communities. |
| Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard, the chair of the Royal College of GPs, said loneliness and social isolation can be as bad for a person’s health as chronic diseases. | Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard, the chair of the Royal College of GPs, said loneliness and social isolation can be as bad for a person’s health as chronic diseases. |
| She encouraged people to be “good citizens” and connect with friends and neighbours in a “meaningful” way. | She encouraged people to be “good citizens” and connect with friends and neighbours in a “meaningful” way. |
| “Any festival or gathering where people get together can extenuate or magnify feelings of being isolated or lonely,” she said. | “Any festival or gathering where people get together can extenuate or magnify feelings of being isolated or lonely,” she said. |
| “People usually are already vulnerable and also it’s darker, the whole Sad (seasonal affective disorder) thing about short days, amplify these things. | “People usually are already vulnerable and also it’s darker, the whole Sad (seasonal affective disorder) thing about short days, amplify these things. |
| “As a GP, we see people in their communities, we are part of their communities, and we see the adverse impact these things have on people’s health – these are as bad as chronic diseases to your health.” | “As a GP, we see people in their communities, we are part of their communities, and we see the adverse impact these things have on people’s health – these are as bad as chronic diseases to your health.” |
| Stokes-Lampard continued: “Moments of meaningful connection is the language we use. Not just saying ‘hi’ or waving to the neighbour but actually saying ‘how are you doing, how are things going?’ | Stokes-Lampard continued: “Moments of meaningful connection is the language we use. Not just saying ‘hi’ or waving to the neighbour but actually saying ‘how are you doing, how are things going?’ |
| “Having a little chat. Checking in on people in more than a trivial way. As a healthcare professional, we always feel like we spend our days doing good stuff, but this is about being a good citizen and part of society. | “Having a little chat. Checking in on people in more than a trivial way. As a healthcare professional, we always feel like we spend our days doing good stuff, but this is about being a good citizen and part of society. |
| “In a world where we’ve got more connection by social media than ever before, we also hear and see other people are less connected with somebody that can hold your hand in a time of trouble.” | “In a world where we’ve got more connection by social media than ever before, we also hear and see other people are less connected with somebody that can hold your hand in a time of trouble.” |
| Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures released in April showed 5% of adults in England feel lonely often or always, with 16% saying they feel lonely some of the time. | Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures released in April showed 5% of adults in England feel lonely often or always, with 16% saying they feel lonely some of the time. |
| Almost 25% said they occasionally felt lonely, while figures released earlier this month showed 14% of children aged 10-12 often feel lonely. | Almost 25% said they occasionally felt lonely, while figures released earlier this month showed 14% of children aged 10-12 often feel lonely. |
| Among young people aged 16 to 24 across England, 9.8% reported often feeling lonely, the ONS said. | Among young people aged 16 to 24 across England, 9.8% reported often feeling lonely, the ONS said. |
| In January, Theresa May described loneliness as a “sad reality of modern life” for too many people, as she announced a range of measures including the appointment of a minister with a brief to lead the government’s response. | In January, Theresa May described loneliness as a “sad reality of modern life” for too many people, as she announced a range of measures including the appointment of a minister with a brief to lead the government’s response. |
| Loneliness | Loneliness |
| Mental health | Mental health |
| Communities | Communities |
| Health | Health |
| news | news |
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