Wellbeing Guide from Police Mutual Loneliness
We all feel lonely at times, it is a natural emotion. By building a greater awareness and acceptance of loneliness, we can help ourselves to manage the feeling.
Most people will feel lonely at some point in their lives, regardless of age or background. It’s a deeply personal experience that in most cases will thankfully pass. But for a growing number of people, loneliness can define their lives and have a significant impact on their overall wellbeing.
Loneliness will be felt differently for everyone, it may still occur when you have loving support around you.
It’s not always the number of social contacts but the perception of those relationships that count. Feeling lonely is different from being alone.
Loneliness is affecting more and more people in the UK and has had a huge impact on our physical and mental health especially during and since the pandemic. The connection to other people and community is fundamental to protecting our mental health.
Certain life events, such as a bereavement can trigger such feelings, even if other family members rally around in support. Loneliness can be caused by many other things including leaving the workplace, children or friends moving away, debilitating health condition or illness, no longer being able to participate in normal hobbies or activities and lack of access to transport.
Read more in the wellbeing guide here