Help us end the scourge of loneliness
A STUDY carried out among UK citizens last year found that 9m. – 20% – of adults reported being often or always lonely.
This terribly sad statistic is perhaps a symptom of our times but loneliness isn’t just sad, it’s bad for peoples’ health too. Prolonged periods of loneliness can create a risk of chronic and life-limiting health conditions such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
The problem of loneliness is so acute that the UK has appointed a minister for loneliness in response to what it has been described as a public health priority. Age Concern found that of the 4,000 people over the age of 65 living alone in Jersey, some 400 of them reported feeling ‘chronically lonely’.
Look a little closer to home, where there are more than 2,700 islanders over the age of 65 who live alone and it’s easy to draw the conclusion that a proportion of those people feel the same way. And it’s not just confined to senior members of society, younger people can feel isolated too.
Loneliness is a condition that can build over time, gradually eroding a person, making them feel less able to do daily tasks such as washing and feeding themselves. But there is something that we, as a community, can do about it.
Which is why today the Guernsey Press is proud to stand with The Channel Islands Co-operative Society and Guernsey Post to launch the Meet Your Neighbour campaign. Its aim is simple, to break down the barriers that may stop us connecting with those who live nearby. Perhaps you’ve noticed someone who could use a little help but weren’t brave enough to offer. Perhaps they would love some help, but don’t feel able to ask.
The idea of Meet Your Neighbour is simple: pick up a form, fill out your details and post it to your neighbours to let them know that you can help them. They can then return the other half of the form to you with details of how to help. The leaflet will be available in Co-op stores across the island and Guernsey Post will also be delivering one to each home.
We hope this campaign can further build on our already very special sense of community by going that extra mile to help end the scourge of loneliness.