Mental health awareness week | Counselling Insight

Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 -Loneliness

Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 runs between May 9th and May 15th 2022, with this year’s theme being loneliness.

As human beings, we are genetically wired for connection.Connection brings psychological security-being part of a community that shares goals and values, working together not only to survive, but to thrive and contribute to the next generation’s future can make us, as humans, feel protected, cared for and meaningful.

When/if we feel like connection is lost, we are more likely to feel lonely.

Loneliness however is not identical to being alone; one can choose to be alone and be happy, whilst others may need people around and connection in order not to feel alone.

in 2018, the world’s largest experiment on loneliness, launched by the BBC saw 55,000 take part-the largest survey of the kind in the world, showed that young people are the group who feel loneliest-with 40%of 16-24 year olds stated they feel often lonely compared to 27& for those aged over 75.

A third of those surveyed said they often or very often feel lonely, with more women reporting feeling shamed about feeling lonely than men.

The most popular solution for tackling loneliness mentioned by those surveyed was finding distracting activities or working, studying or finding a hobby.

Loneliness can be caused by many events-relationship break ups, bereavement, retirement, moving, starting a new job, attending a new school etc.Looking at growing up, when a child grows up with an unavailable main carer, it can lead to an adult who is unable to connection emotionally with others-whether through fear, or inability, as this type of connection has never been experienced or modelled as healthy.

Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death.

Tackling loneliness can at times, feel like a really difficult task to achieve; finding things that you enjoy doing, discovering a new hobby, joining a club or a group of people with common interests, reaching out to a friend-can only be helpful ways of finding connection.

For a helping hand, reach out to see how we might be able to help.