Publish date: 9 May 2022
From furry friends to books, staff and service users from the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service are sharing how they cope with their experiences of loneliness to highlight its impact on our wellbeing, for Mental Health Awareness Week. Mental Health Awareness Week is being observed nationally from 9 to 15 May.
New research from the Mental Health Foundation shows that anyone can experience loneliness, but there are particular groups who are more likely to go through this, putting their mental health at risk. This includes being between 18 and 24 years of age, living alone, being unemployed and having a long-term health condition or disability.
Long-term loneliness is closely linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. But as Rozmin Mukhi, Grenfell Specialist Psychotherapist tells us, loneliness has also been associated with effects on our physical health, including higher stress levels, poorer immune functioning, and serious changes in cardiovascular functioning. Find out more about this later in the week.
During the course of the week, we will share posts daily from our service users and staff, exploring this important theme.
The NHS offers a number of practical ways that we can address loneliness, including talking to and sharing with others, joining a group that focuses on something you enjoy, and using peer support services.
Mind also offers tips on managing loneliness.
The Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service runs a number of wellbeing groups for service users and people in the community who do not use our services. These include our new Childrens gardening group, and the Wednesday Recovery Lounge with the SPACE.
You can also find support from local organisations in your community. Use our wellbeing roadmap to see what’s available.
If you or someone you know needs support please call us on 020 8637 6279 from 8am to 8pm. After 8pm and overnight call the CNWL Urgent Advice Line on 0800 0234 650
