The interviews we have been conducting for our review of neighbourliness in Manchester have shown how people see their relations with neighbours in terms of mental health. Mind have just published a report based on two surveys, which draws attention to the disturbing extent of isolation and loneliness. Some 84 per cent of people with mental health problems report that they feel isolated.
"The most isolated group of people appeared to be young people (92 per cent). People in rural areas also did badly, with 90 per cent feeling isolated. Almost 90 per cent of people from Black and minority ethnic communities also reported feeling isolated, with 61 per cent of this group saying that their isolation was exacerbated by other forms of discrimination."
"Beyond social change, overcoming isolation came down to very simple solutions for many people. Human contact, made by developing relationships, social activities, mental health organisations and access to the telephone and internet all helped, or would help if available, according to Mind’s survey."
this relates to our findings in a survey in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. We found that loneliness is not age-related, despite many saying it is something related to old age. We also found loneliness declined between 1999 and 2002, most likely to increased labour market participation.
Next month, we'll run that survey again, and it'll be interesting to see whether loneliness declines further, or increased now unemployment is rising again.
On the whole, one wonders why so many social interventions on loneliness are geared towards senior citizens, if it is all too common among all age groups.
Posted by: Steyaert | Thursday, 20 May 2004 at 20:20