SNP MSP Ben Macpherson is calling on people across Edinburgh to contribute to the Scottish Government’s new consultation looking at the causes of social isolation and loneliness and how they can be addressed.
The consultation will run until 30 April and will thereafter feed into a new national strategy, one of the first in the world, to tackle loneliness and isolation. A national strategy to combat loneliness was a key ask of the Jo Cox Commission, which welcomed this announcement.
Views are also being sought on how communities can build on the work of the Scottish Government, and lead on ensuring those at risk of becoming lonely or isolated have access to the right support networks.
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Ben Macpherson, said: “It’s important that voices from across Edinburgh get involved in the Scottish Government’s consultation to help shape the new loneliness and isolation strategy, especially since each and every one of us has a role to play in reducing loneliness in Scotland.
“Dealing with loneliness and isolation can be incredibly difficult, and by reaching out to our neighbours or anyone we think may be at risk of becoming isolated or lonely – by taking them out or simply having a chat – we can all have a hugely positive impact.
“Young or old – loneliness doesn’t discriminate and it is linked to both poor physical and mental health, and can have wide-ranging consequences on so many aspects of our lives.
“The SNP Government will be the first in the UK, and one of the first in the world, to develop a national strategy to address loneliness and isolation. This strategy needs input from our communities and society to help ensure that those at risk of loneliness get the support they need, so I would encourage as many people as possible in Edinburgh to have their say on this very important issue by contributing to the consultation.”
Speaking in Parliament yesterday Conservative MSP Miles Briggs highlighted loneliness as one of the leading public health challenges in Scotland, with more than 100,000 older people in our country “chronically lonely.”
Social isolation and loneliness have been shown to have a strong correlation with mental ill health. It is a key trigger of depression and low mood, and can be linked to a significant number of suicides, especially among more elderly members of our communities. Loneliness puts individuals at greater risk of cognitive decline and one recent academic study had indicated that lonely people have a 64% increased chance of developing clinical dementia.
Loneliness and social isolation can have a serious impact on our physical health as well as our mental health. Recent research has shown that lacking social connections is as damaging to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Indeed, it is estimated that loneliness increases the likelihood of mortality by 26%.
Miles Briggs, the Conservative Health spokesperson at Holyrood, took the opportunity to praise a number of Edinburgh charities including Vintage Vibes, Contact the Elderly and Health in Mind, for the great work that they do.
He said: “Improving Scotland’s Mental Wellbeing is inextricably linked to tackling social isolation and we need to see the strategies on both these issues very closely aligned so that they complement and reinforce each other.
“As a Lothian MSP I shared the concern, and indeed surprise, of many fellow residents in Edinburgh when the Capital was described as the loneliest City in the UK in December as it was revealed more broadly that 60,000 people over the age of 65 in Scotland would be spending Christmas Day alone.
“While many groups and charities offer formal volunteering opportunities for members of the public, every single one of us can play a part in reducing social isolation by sometimes taking very small actions that can make a difference.
“This can include checking how an elderly neighbour is every now and then or asking them if they want to drop in for a coffee.”
The Scottish Government’s consultation runs until 30 April.
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