Reach out to those you are concerned about this Loneliness Awareness Week, says BPS

Speaking to a stranger when queueing, sending a text to a friend and chatting on the doorstop with a neighbour are just some of the small things we can all do to prevent people feeling lonely this Loneliness Awareness Week, says the British Psychological Society.

With nearly four million people in the UK suffering from loneliness¹, the British Psychological Society has drawn on the expertise of its members this Loneliness Awareness Week to offer some simple and practical ways to reach out to people you may be concerned about. 

These include:

• Make a phone call or send a meme - try sharing a funny meme or GIF or something from social media with a 'I saw this and thought of you' type message. Ensure you stagger your contact with a text one day, then maybe a phone call a few days later.
• Talk to a stranger in a queue - engaging in a conversation can go a long way in helping people to develop and practice their social skills. It could also help people to see those around them in a more positive light. 
• Chat on the doorstep - if you bump into your neighbour while you are near home or outside your door, stop for a chat and ask how they are. Discuss the weather or when bin day is. Just five minutes saying hello with a smile can make the world of difference.
• Write a letter - sending a handwritten letter that people can return to sends a strong physical message that you are thinking of them, and you've taken the time to send them something special.
• Send a gift - gifts that last can encourage continued interaction. Consider sending some bulbs someone can plant, they can then update you when the first shoots appear and begin to bloom. This will encourage them to keep interacting with you and creates a shared connection.

Although small interventions can make a world a difference to someone's life, wider systemic change is also fundamental to tackling what the BPS calls a "nationwide public health emergency" of loneliness.  

Dr Roman Raczka, President-Elect of the British Psychological Society, said:

"Individual interventions are of course welcome and encouraging people to reach out and check in on people who might be isolated this Loneliness Awareness Week could make a real difference. Studies clearly show that starting conversations with strangers or reconnecting with old friends is positive for our mental wellbeing as well as theirs. 

"But there are also wider issues at play. We must seize this opportunity and look much deeper at the problem of loneliness and make systemic changes across all aspects of society. With millions of people in the UK suffering from loneliness, this is the next nationwide public health emergency that must be urgently addressed by the next government. Positive progress has been made since the Loneliness Strategy launched in 2018, but this must be updated to reflect how the world has changed since the pandemic. 

"We must also look at the financial cost of loneliness. Social prescribing for example can be vital in supporting people and lowering costs through reducing visits to GPs. This can help ease some of the pressure on our stretched health system and social care system.

"Political leaders must wake up to the challenges that loneliness presents. Making a public commitment in this general election campaign to tackle the issue head on would be a good place to start."

Notes to editors

• ¹Facts and Statistics | Campaign to End Loneliness
• New study explores the dynamics of reconnecting with old friends and the positive emotions that are likely to come with it: We're surprisingly reluctant to reach out to old friends | BPS
• Why you should talk to strangers: Why you should talk to strangers | BPS