Clinical care alone can’t address health challenges like loneliness & mental health.
People struggle more at work & in their daily life when they don’t have social connections.
Loneliness is increasing across all age groups, but older adults are particularly affected.
1 in 5 GP appointments are for non-medical problems: Social activities could reduce GP visits by up to 2.5-3% each year (2.8-3 million appointments).
Signposting services can help to blend health, social & community organisations working together.
Taking part in social & cultural activities can make life better than healthcare by itself.
Social isolation & loneliness
Loneliness hurts – both people & communities. Social isolation & the loneliness it causes can reduce quality of life, affect physical & mental well-being & financial security.
Adult social isolation ranges from 15 – 40%
More than 1/3 of adults over 45 are socially isolated
Nearly 1/4 of adults over 65 are socially isolated
Mental health risks
Poor mental health (e.g. depression/anxiety) is common in people experiencing social isolation.
Feeling lonely can make mental health worse.
Loneliness increases risks of developing anxiety & can lead to social anxiety.
For depressed or anxious people, their symptoms can be worse if they have less social connections or a weak support network.
Social & economic health risks
Loneliness impacts people, workplaces & communities, reducing productivity & well-being. It also leads to higher healthcare costs & poorer job performance.
Physical health risks
Poor social connections are linked to worse physical health, longer hospital stays & risk of early death.
Older adults who are socially isolated or lonely have:
Loneliness is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Social isolation is linked to higher suicide risks, especially in older adults with less social interactions.
People without social connections have weaker immune systems & are more vulnerable to infections.
Health inequalities
Disadvantaged people are more likely to experience mental health problems due to the health inequalities (structural differences in living circumstances) they face & they are less likely to access services to get help.
Services based in communities offer a way to help with this issue.
Differences in environmental, social, & economic circumstances = health inequalities.
Socio-economic factors (e.g. poor housing, poverty & unemployment) are linked to poor mental health.
In the UK, 1 in 6 people are affected by common mental health problems.
Disadvantaged people are more likely to be impacted by their mental health than others.
They are less likely to access services & benefit from them.
Community-based approaches provide more appropriate and effective ways of improving people’s health & well-being.
Struggling with mental health/loneliness
Accessing community based services
