16 QMYOU / Social Sciences
Loneliness – Britain ’ s ‘ last taboo ’
A
RECENT REPORT into the cost of loneliness estimated that 1.2 million people in the UK experience chronic loneliness . The ‘ Campaign To End Loneliness ’ is calling for the condition to be seen as a public health problem , like obesity and smoking . But , there is a reluctance to talk openly about the devastating impact of loneliness – and it means that this ‘ last taboo ’ remains both a serious and largely unshared complex problem for many . Firstly , we must understand that there is a difference between experiencing loneliness and feeling lonesome . Loneliness is a complex and usually unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation . People who experience it are often anxious about their lack of connection and communication with others and can be fearful about how loneliness affects their current and future situation .
The condition is often associated with our older population . Indeed , in 2016 , the World Health Organization identified older people as being vulnerable to multiple social , psychological , and biological factors that can result in loneliness . However , in our fast-paced digital world , there is a growing awareness that the ‘ loneliness epidemic ’ is having a devastating impact on people ’ s health and wellbeing regardless of age or social class .
Within the constraints of reduced resources and squeezed government budgets - where we are seeing an erosion of community spaces and services where there would normally be interpersonal exchange - how can we address this isolating human experience and prevent it from digging deeper into pockets of society ? To address the list of health , social and economic issues linked with loneliness , we must better understand the condition , its impact on individuals and on key population groups .
Dr Olivia Sagan is Head of Division , Psychology & Sociology at QMU . Having researched mental illness throughout her career , she noticed that loneliness was a reoccurring theme in her work with mentally ill adults from all walks of life . She explained : “ In one recent participatory research project I asked a group of mental health service users what they thought should be looked at in more detail . I was not surprised to hear them say : “ what it is really like to be lonely ”.
“ On researching the experience of loneliness I found it to be a complicated , deeply human experience , one not necessarily helped by having more friends or a busy life , and one certainly not ‘ solved ’ by having a million Facebook ‘ friends ’ or using Skype and Facetime . In fact , it often seemed worsened by these substitutes for human connectedness . In bringing together a range of people from the arts , health , therapy , psychology , conservation and education , I explored the experience of loneliness in the 21st century . This work , brought together in a book of multidisciplinary research and recently published by Routledge , confirms that to understand and address loneliness in the 21st century we need to harness the talents not only of a broad spectrum of health and social professionals , but of architects , artists , educationalists , conservationists , engineers and philosophers .”
Recently regarded as a unspoken threat to the nation ’ s wellbeing , 2016 saw loneliness move out of the shadows and into the spotlight . The Scottish Government set up a £ 300,000 fund to tackle social isolation and loneliness , with an extra £ 248k for well-established projects aimed at curbing isolation . Dr Sagan believes the money is long overdue , but is pleased to see the funding directed towards vulnerable people . She confirmed : “ This signifies recognition of the harm that loneliness and isolation cause , not only to individuals but society more broadly .”
Evidence from psychology research demonstrates a correlation between loneliness and a range of health issues both mental and physical , with one recent study finding that loneliness triggers biological changes that can cause illness and early death .
Dr Sagan concluded : “ Worryingly , my research shows that the most vulnerable amongst us are seeing real cuts to their benefits , a scaling back of their health and social care and a withdrawal of vital community projects that offer a simple lifeline to so many . While loneliness does not differentiate between socio-economic backgrounds , there is no doubt its effects are felt more acutely by those who have the least means of combatting it .”
Dr Sagan ’ s most recent research , generated by concerns amongst groups of adults sharing their lived experience , looks more closely at people living with the contested diagnosis of Personality Disorder – claimed by many to be the loneliest of experiences and diagnoses .
Find out more about Dr Sagan ’ s recent research on loneliness and her co-edited books by viewing her staff profile on the QMU website : www . qmu . ac . uk
16 QMYOU / Social Sciences