Psychological support for lonely has 'never been more important'

In the first major study of the how psychological approaches can help to tackle loneliness, the Campaign to End Loneliness found that cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness and positive psychology all show promise for easing loneliness in later life - and could be of benefit to millions of people.

The report compiled evidence from around the UK, and highlighted the work of Age Better in Sheffield’s Wellbeing Practitioners, who offer intensive counselling to people in need and have previously featured in The Yorkshire Post. One of the participants told how counselling had given them the confidence to “re-engage with the world”.

Participants had also reported lower levels of loneliness and 80 per cent reported higher levels of wellbeing.

The Campaign to End Loneliness, who partnered with The Yorkshire Post when it launched its Loneliness: The Hidden Epidemic campaign in 2014, said “more people than ever before” are reporting feelings of loneliness since the lockdown.

The report recommends that organisations who provide support for people who are lonely adjust their services to use some of the learning about the psychology of loneliness, and include group activities, social prescribing and psycho-educations courses in the design of services.

Those suffering from chronic loneliness, due to life events or bereavement, are best helped with one-to-one support directly focused on helping them alleviate loneliness using psychological techniques, the report said.

Executive director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, Kate Shurety, said: “As a result of lockdown millions of people say loneliness is affecting their wellbeing and there has been unprecedented action across all levels of government and society. The subject has never been more relevant

“As meeting physically has often been impossible due to lockdown, there has been an increased understanding of the role of psychology to deal with loneliness. This report hopes to help people tackle their own loneliness and support people to better understand the emotional impact of their thoughts and feelings.”

The report’s findings have been supported by organisations including Curse Bereavement Care, Relate, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BCAP) and The Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Older People Lead at the BACP, Jeremy Bacon, said the report was a “timely contribution” to understanding psychological aspects of loneliness.

He said: “It is vital that the UK governments fully recognise the psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and increase access to talking therapies as part of the response to rising need.”

Chair of the Old Age Faculty at The Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Mani Krishnan, said it was essential that therapy is available to all older people, including those in digitally-excluded and hard-to-reach groups.

The Government’s Minster for Loneliness, Baroness Diana Barran said since her appointment a year ago, she has been “ever more struck” by its seriousness.

On the report, she said: “I hope that the way it crystallises what many people are doing instinctively can be used to spread these approaches, so everyone can connect in order to live full and satisfying lives.”