Loneliness in the news again

I don’t see any problems with gp’s identifying it as a mental health problem in their patients or signposting them to access helpful schemes but is it the NHS responsibility to pay for these activities when it is practically on its knees with the medical health of the nation

In this area there is a scheme called Befriended where volunteers regularly visit someone who is lonely or housebound and chats with them or takes them out . I recently went to their anniversary party ( purely by chance as I was visiting a friend who is connected to the scheme) and about 100 volunteers and visitees had a wonderful time with afternoon tea, a dance exhibition, music and a fire eater!

Not everyone who's alone is lonely, loneliness is a state of mind which people sink into and seem unable to help themselves out of. Giving a lonely person a list of clubs is unlikely to help them at all. I guess the reason it falls on the GP is that the GP is the only person that lonely people are likely to reach out to. Even then they may not mention loneliness just keep turning up with random complaints all the time. GP's so often have to play detective in so many cases but who else will come into regular contact with lonely people?

June you so eloquently put my own thoughts into words - especially the part about being with people and the feeling of loneliness returning as soon as you return home. The advice about joining groups is all very well - if there are any near you, in my case there aren't. Believe me I have tried to find them.

June, you have put your feelings across very well.
I do hope you find someone to share Christmas with. You could come to us but we’re heading north and you probably live miles away anyway.
I don’t think it’s the governments role to stop us being lonely. There are so many organisations out there, the church for example, that should be doing more. I am involved with the local church, just keeping it open really.
Whenever we have a fund raising event I let it be known, in the village newsletter, that if anyone needs a lift to get there to give me a ring. No one has ever rung me so I presume that we don’t have any lonely people here.
I will say that our incumbent does very little in the way of community relationships.
There are quite a few things going on in our local town and there is an age concern bus that provides a means of transport. That, of course is only for the elderly.
There are lots of groups and clubs that welcome new members but it’s up to the lonely people to turn up and that’s too difficult for some.
When I was at college in London,many years ago, I belonged to a group called Task force.
We were paired up with an older person and would visit regularly and take them shopping etc. I hope we both got something out of it but, looking back, I have a mental image of her with her stick and me with my yellow hot pants and matching over the knee socks.? we had fun.

I don't think that loneliness is fully understood. If you live alone, are not very mobile and like me don't drive, these groups are not accessible. Also loneliness is not only about being alone but having no one in your life to love and care for you and for you to care for back. It is not a tangible thing but a feeling of having no purpose from day to day.
I suppose that I am still going through the grieving process even though my husband has been gone for 2yrs. I can be in someone's company but still feel lonely as soon as I walk back into my own home. I have lots of craft hobbies but then want someone to share them with so lose my motivation.
So hard to explain only to repeat that it is more than being alone. I have family who have their own families but none live near me. Even if they did, their families must and do come first. The feeling of loneliness is something that has to be battled. I know that some lonely people would give anything to talk to someone else as they see no one from day to day and this must be awful.
I am hoping to find a couple of people who are alone for Christmas and who live near me to join me for Christmas dinner. Hopefully the feeling that they are wanted will make such a difference at what will be an extra lonely time.