A volunteer support group has been set up to help elderly/vulnerable people during the Covid 19 crisis.
UK Community Network is active in all areas of Edinburgh and have been helping people for the past few weeks. We still believe their are people struggling who maybe don’t qualify for other sorts of help and we also believe that as more people go back to work, there will be less volunteers around to help.
We have volunteers who are ready to help with shopping, prescriptions, etc.
Get in touch!
New research from BT suggests that many older people (70+) are suffering from a difficult combination of both physical and digital isolation during the Coronavirus lockdown.
A poll of people from across the UK, who have a close relative over 70, found that less than a quarter believe their loved one would be willing to try a video call with a GP, with the majority prepared to wait longer to get a face-to-face appointment.
While some older people (27%) have ventured to the shops during lockdown, a third of those surveyed believe their relatives had put themselves at risk in order to purchase essential items on behalf of their loved one and nearly half those surveyed (49%) think it would be life-changing for their older relative if they knew how to order their own groceries online.
However, 41 per cent think their older family member has never made an online purchase, and half believe their relative is reluctant to try and learn new skills when it comes to technology.
The survey revealed various barriers to learning: more than three-quarters (76%) think their relative would consider it too complicated. A quarter think their loved ones feel the internet is unsafe (26%), 29 per cent say that their relatives haven’t got anyone to teach them and 35 per cent aren’t sure where to learn these digital skills.
Nearly four in ten (38%) did say their family members would be more open to improving their digital skills due to recent events, but don’t know where to start.
Professor Kerensa Jennings, BT Group Director of Digital Impact, said: “Technology has become an essential lifeline for millions of people right now. But to combat loneliness, we must ensure that older people can take advantage of the benefits that technology provides, from accessing vital services to staying in touch with family and friends.
“We know that even picking up some relatively simple digital skills can make a huge difference to the lives of older people and those that care for them during lockdown – whether it’s doing their own online shopping, accessing health services or enjoying face-to-face calls with loved ones.
“While many older people are very confident with tech, it’s never too late to try something new. For others, it’s the first time they are accessing the internet. That’s why we are working closely with leading social change charity, Good Things Foundation, to ensure people can get the skills they need to stay connected and healthy during lockdown.”
The survey also revealed that six in 10 people believe their loved ones feel more isolated than ever before as a result of the global pandemic, and 53 per cent think they have struggled to adjust to an altered lifestyle due to coronavirus.
Email and WhatsApp are the digital platforms family members feel elderly relations are the most adept at using, with 39 per cent able to successfully set up a video call with their elderly loved ones. One in five over 70s are also able to stream through Amazon Prime or Netflix.
However, over three quarters (78%) said their family member consumes their information from television, with a third relying on their family member to update them on current affairs and just one in five going online.
Helen Milner, Chief Executive of Good Things Foundation, said: “The research supports what we’re hearing from our network partners and our wider findings on the issue of digital isolation. The people left behind are disproportionately older, often with existing health issues that are being compounded by a lack of confidence in digital technology. This is a deeply shocking societal problem we must all address urgently.
“We know that due to the Coronavirus pandemic more people are willing to try new things online and improve their digital skills so this is the perfect time to give them the tools and guidance to do so.”
BT Skills for Tomorrow is giving 10 million people the skills they need to make the most of life in the digital world we live in. It’s completely free and designed to help everyone – from school children and teachers, parents and families to businesses and jobseekers – and anyone who needs support getting online to make the most of life.
Working in partnership with leading digital skills organisations, BT have created and collated the best courses, webinars and information, in one easy to navigate place.
However, there remains a significant number of vulnerable people who do not currently have an internet connection or suitable device, making isolation particularly difficult. In order to address this issue, BT has donated 1,000 tablets with pre-paid SIMs to the Good Things Foundation as part of the DevicesDotNow campaign.
The Good Things Foundation is the UK’s leading digital exclusion charity and the key distribution partner for DevicesDotNow through their Online Centres Network. They are also one of BT’s existing partners through Skills for Tomorrow.
City council leader Adam McVey has outlined the measures the Council will take following a report from the Edinburgh Poverty Commission into the impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on residents in the city.
The interim Poverty and Coronavirus in Edinburgh report has taken testimonies from people directly affected by the pandemic focussing on areas such as jobs, people’s incomes, housing, homelessness, the cost of living, health and social isolation.
Leader Adam McVey pledged the Council will do everything it can to support those most in need and welcomed the report which will inform the future direction the Council takes in tackling poverty in the city.
He said: “I welcome that this report recognises the work done by the Council, partners, third sector and volunteers across the city to respond positively and quickly to deliver lifeline services including vital food and medical supplies for citizens affected by the coronavirus measure that have been put in place.
“Today’s report contains important findings with vital and timely testimonies on the real impact that lockdown is having on people’s lives. While we have all been affected by the ongoing situation, it is clear from this report that this pandemic has been particularly challenging for those who were already in or at risk of poverty in the city.
“We’re absolutely committed to making sure this evidence shapes our continuing response to this emergency over the coming months, as well as the planning for how we will rebuild the city when this crisis has passed.
“It’s so important that while we look to address the additional hardship and pressures this crisis has brought, we also build on the renewed sense of community and collaboration we have witnessed across the city.
“As we plan for Edinburgh’s recovery, we will continue to be ambitious and make sure our responses are guided by our long-term commitment to boosting sustainability, tackling poverty and improving residents’ wellbeing.
“We will continue working with the Scottish and UK Governments to secure the right level of ongoing financial support to allow us to rebuild and create a fairer city for all going forward.”
In specific response to the actions the Commission has put forward, the Council will:
In the coming weeks the Council will publish its first plans for how the city will adapt and rebuild from this crisis throughout the rest of this year and beyond. A key element of this recovery programme will be ensuring that the twin targets of being fair and green for all lie at its heart.
The council will continue to encourage partners who are invested in the prosperity of the city work with them to achieve a ‘fair and green economic recovery’ which will include the work of both the Edinburgh Poverty Commission and the Edinburgh Climate Commission.
The final report by the Edinburgh Poverty Commission and their findings will be published in the autumn.
20200518_EPC_Interim_Coronavirus_Report
Imagine the isolation you’ve been living with became your new normal. You’re unable to meet a friend for coffee, go to your favourite restaurant or travel on holiday. Your job becomes uncertain, and you live your life on permanent lockdown …
This is what life is like for many of the 21,000 adults, children and young people in Scotland living with the serious neurological condition, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
Niamh, 21, from Gullane, says the illness has robbed her of being a normal teenager: “I was academic and very sporty. At the time of my diagnosis I had competed in national and local squads. I got ill at 12, so the biggest change was missing out on teenage and school years. I still miss sports an awful lot.”
M.E. affects people’s bodies and brains ability to recover normally after any activity, physical and mental, and however small. On top of the significant daily challenges this presents fluctuating condition presents, much of the support and services people with M.E. in Scotland have come to rely on – such as supermarket deliveries or carers providing personal care – have disappeared overnight.
“We have been contacted by people with M.E. in truly desperate situations,” explains Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive, Action for M.E.
“So we set up our new Crisis, Support and Advocacy Service to meet this urgent need, sourcing practical local assistance such as help with shopping and picking-up medications, connecting people with peer-support, and advising on the ongoing changes to welfare benefits.
“So far, we have seen a three-fold increase in requests for urgent support – all at a time when our income is expected to drop by at least 50%. Like many other organisations and charities, we made the difficult decision to furlough several staff. We are continuing to make critical decisions to ensure we are here for people with M.E., now and in the future.”
For M.E. Awareness Month throughout May, the charity is encouraging people with M.E. to share their insight and experience when it comes to living with uncertainty and isolation, with the aim of shining a spotlight on this hidden condition.
Niamh added: “Chronic illness feels like lockdown – but being able to see your friends run around, go to parties, graduate from high school and grow up.
“For lots of people suffering with chronic illnesses, this lockdown may not end when the pubs start opening back up. For them, lockdown does not have a start date and an end date.”
Rhona Barton from Blackburn, Aberdeenshire is someone else who understands living in lockdown as normal life. Diagnosed with M.E. at 21 years old, she had to find a way to get through each day.
“What helped me when I was unwell included things such as hydrotherapy, very gentle massage, few people in a room with me at one time, no loud sounds/music/voices, hot water bottles to help with joint and muscle pain; a double duvet cover on a single bed to stop it falling off in the night and to keep me extra warm; a wheelchair for trips out to save energy; small meals but often; keeping a sense of humour and learning to balance my energy levels.”
Rhona has been well for 14 years now and puts her experience to good use.
“As I am now classed as well, I have been volunteering as a mentor for Action for M.E.’s Mentor M.E. project, and as a Coach for Age UK. My health has been steady and I’ve been able to build my own business around a work/life balance that’s right for me.”
As a mentor, Rhona shares her insight into living with a chronic illness with her mentee Charlotte, who says: “Talking to someone who has experienced M.E. for themselves and can really understand my condition and concerns has been an enormous help. Regular contact with Rhona, especially at the moment, has given me something to look forward to and enjoy.”
Rhona hopes the experience of lockdown will lead to a greater understanding of people, like Niamh and Charlotte, living with chronic illness.
“For all of those individuals that have never had to restrict their lives to their own homes, I’d like them to know that what they are experiencing during Covid-19 is the normal for those with chronic illnesses.
“The isolation, the low mood, the lack of structure, the inability to see others or just to do as you please, is our normal everyday life. I hope that, when this is past, those who are hidden, will be more visible to the rest of society.”
Anyone living with or caring for someone with M.E., of any age, can contact Action for M.E.’s Crisis, Support and Advocacy Service by email at questions@actionforme.org.uk or call on 0117 927 9551.
Over one in three 18-24 year olds, and three in ten workers in their early 60s, are receiving less pay than they did at the start of the year, compared to less than a quarter of workers aged 35-49, according to new Resolution Foundation published today.
The report is published on the day it was announced that UK unemployment rose by 50,000 to 1.35 million in the three months to March, when the effects of the coronavirus lockdown started to affect the economy.
The report, Young workers in the coronavirus crisis, based on a survey of 6,005 UK adults in early May and supported by the Health Foundation, examines how the current crisis has already affected workers of different ages in terms of their jobs, pay, hours and working conditions. It is published ahead of official labour market data today covering the three months to March this year (and only the very start of the crisis).
Previous Resolution Foundation research has shown that excluding students, young people tend to be hit hardest during downturns, and are particularly at risk in the current one as they are more likely to work in the hardest hit sectors of the economy, such as hospitality, leisure and retail.
Looking at workers’ current earnings compared to the start of the year, the research finds that employees across all age groups are more likely to be earning less than they did in January than earning more, though young and older workers are most affected.
Among 18-24 year olds, 35 per cent are earning less than they did before the outbreak, and 13 per cent are earning more. Employees in their early 60s are the next most likely to be receiving less pay (30 per cent), with a further 9 per cent receiving more pay. By contrast, 23 per cent of 35-49 year olds are earning less, while 5 per cent are earning more.
The research shows that young people are also the most likely to have lost work – though other age groups have been affected.
One in three 18-24 year olds employees have lost work, either through being furloughed (23 per cent) or losing their jobs completely (9 per cent).
One in five (20 per cent) employees in their late 20s (aged 25-29) have either been furloughed or lost their jobs, along with around one in six (18 per cent) workers in their early 60s (aged 60-64).
Employees aged 35-44 are the least likely to have been furloughed or lost their jobs, with around 15 per cent experiencing this since the crisis began.
The Foundation says the big pay reductions and job losses for young and older employees are a huge concern, for very different reasons.
Younger workers deeply affected by the crisis today risk have their pay scarred for years to come – causing a long-term reduction in their living standards. Older workers risk being involuntary retired well before reaching their State Pension Age, or not having time to make-up their current earnings shortfall. Both risks could cause a permanent hit to their incomes through retirement.
The Foundation says that the scale of pay reductions since the crisis began would be even greater where it not for the Job Retention Scheme. The research finds around one in five furloughed employees are still receiving full pay (despite state support being capped at 80 per cent), including over a quarter of workers aged 35-44.
Finally, the Foundation says that the Government needs to start preparing its response to the next phase of the crisis, which should include policies such as Job Guarantees for young people, and broader fiscal stimulus to boost demand in the economy and raise household incomes.
Maja Gustafsson, Researcher at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Our research confirms fears that young people are being hardest in the current crisis. One in three young people have been furloughed or lost their jobs completely, and over one in three had had their pay reduced since the crisis started.
“But while young people are in the eye of the storm, they are not the only group who are experiencing big income shocks. Britain is experiencing a U-shaped living standards crisis, with workers in their early 60s also badly affected.
“That is why the Government’s strategy to support the recovery should combine targeted support to help young people into work, with more general stimulus to boost demand across the economy and help households of all ages.”
Report: Young-workers-in-the-coronavirus-crisis
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the UK soared to 2.1 million in April, the first full month of the coronavirus lockdown.
The April total rose by 856,500, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.
Before the lockdown began, employment had already hit a record high before the lockdown began.
The situation is actually even worse than these desperate figures show – benefit claimant count does not include everyone who is out of work, since not all can claim assistance.
Everyone over the age of five with symptoms eligible to be tested
Testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) is to be opened out to everyone who is symptomatic over the age of five. This means anyone who is displaying any of the three symptoms of COVID-19 – continuous cough, high temperature, or loss of sense of taste or smell – will be able to book a test at the drive-through or mobile test centres.
A limited number of home test kits are also available through this programme.
Tests were previously available to over-65s, key workers and to anyone who needs to work and cannot do so from home. They were also available to household members of those groups.
The extension in testing eligibility comes ahead of the rollout of the new Test, Trace, Isolate and Support (TTIS) approach which will be used to keep transmission in communities low as the country moves out of lockdown.
The extension is a four nation, UK-wide expansion of testing.
The tests in Scotland are available through drive-through centres at Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Glasgow airports, and in Perth and Inverness.
They are also available through the 12 mobile testing units across the country, which move every five days or so. If you book a test you will be offered a test at the centre closest to your own postcode.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “This further expansion of testing will ensure that anyone with symptoms will be able to find out if they have COVID-19, and will therefore be able to know whether or not they should be isolating.
“As well as allowing more people to have a case of COVID-19 confirmed, today’s expansion will also be helpful as we build towards our strategy of test, trace, isolate and support – something that will be especially important as we start to emerge gradually from lockdown.
“This is vital in order to keep transmission in communities low.”
Tests can be booked online: www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
For those unable to access the portal, call 0300 303 2713.
Home test kits are also an option for people who can’t get to a test sites.
Clinical advice is that under-5s are less likely to be affected by COVID-19 and the tests can be distressing for young children. However if you are concerned about a child who is showing symptoms, telephone 111 to speak to NHS 24.
More information on symptoms:
https://www.gov.scot/news/update-to-coronavirus-symptoms
More information on symptoms at NHS Inform:
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19
Priority will continue to be given to those who are key workers, and can be secured by booking through an employer.
Test, Trace, Isolate, Support is a public health intervention to identify cases of COVID-19, find the people they have been in close contact with, and then ask those close-contacts to self-isolate for 14 days to reduce the risk of the disease spreading.
British Gymnastics, the national governing body for gymnastics in the UK, has announced a fundraising initiative to support the National Health Service (NHS).
To recognise and support the incredible sacrifices that the NHS and frontline staff continue to make every day, British Gymnastics, in partnership with Scottish Gymnastics, are calling on the sporting community and beyond to #PresentForPounds.
A ‘present’ is the move performed at the beginning and end of a gymnastics routine to show that you’re ready for action or to celebrate nailing your routine.
The campaign challenges people to post a video or photo of themselves ‘presenting’ online as a salute to the NHS, using the #PresentForPounds tag.
This could be something new and creative at home or something from a past competition, training session or class.
Those involved are then encouraged to donate to NHS Charities Together via British Gymnastics designated JustGiving page before nominating five friends to do the same.
Speaking about the fundraising challenge, former Olympian and Scottish gymnast Dan Purvis said: “#PresentForPounds is a great initiative and I hope that it goes much further than just our sport.
“Every gymnast, whatever age, discipline or level, knows how to present – it shows that they’re ready for action. Whether it’s presenting to friends and family, a coach, the judges or a roaring crowd, to present is part of what makes being a gymnast so special.
“It’s been brilliant to see how our gymnastics community has pulled together at this challenging time and I can’t wait to see people in Scotland getting involved and showing off their best salutes to the NHS.”
Jane Allen MBE, British Gymnastics Chief Executive Officer, added: “I am delighted to announce our #PresentForPounds fundraising initiative. The efforts of our NHS have really brought the country and the gymnastics community together during this challenging period.
“All of us at British Gymnastics have been inspired and humbled by their bravery, as well as the huge fundraising efforts of so many up and down the country, and we want to do our bit to support such a great cause.”
To show their support British Gymnastics will match donations, up to a maximum of £50,000.
Scottish Gymnastics Chief Executive Officer Doc McKelvey said: “Everyone at Scottish Gymnastics is right behind #PresentForPounds as it’s another fun way of bringing the gymnastics family together while we are out of the gym. It is perfect for gymnasts past, present and future to get involved and challenge their friends and family.
“That’s why we’re saying to everyone in Scotland, why not #PresentForPounds to share your love of gymnastics and pride for NHS heroes and raise money for NHS Charities Together.”
To get involved visit www.justgiving.com/
Access to additional support for learning specialist teachers has continued to drop in Scotland, the Scottish Greens have revealed. Figures from the Scottish Greens show that there is now only one specialist additional support needs teacher for every 76 ASN pupils.
The number of specialist additional support needs teachers in 2019 was 2,836 [1], while the number of pupils with additional needs rose to 215,897 [2].
The increasing number of children which each specialist teacher is responsible for is partly driven by the loss of hundreds of ASN teachers since 2010, whilst the number of pupils with identified needs has grown by almost 150,000.
The number of pupils with additional needs has increased from 69,587 in 2010 to 215,897 in 2019. By comparison, there were 3,887 ASN teachers in 2010, with just 2,836 now, or 3,462 if primary teachers in Scotland’s handful of special schools are included.
Ross Greer MSP, Scottish Green education spokesperson, said: “Thousands of children in Scotland with additional needs are being failed. I have raised this with the government time and again over a number of years, but the picture still is not improving.
“Specialist teachers are essential to supporting pupils with additional needs but they are gradually disappearing from our schools, at the same time as demand skyrockets.
“We know already that this lockdown is disproportionately hard for young people with additional needs and for their families, with a real risk that the attainment gap will be widened.
“As well as the need for urgent support, the Scottish Government must ensure that when schools do return to normal, it is a new normal where those with additional support needs are given a far fairer opportunity to learn than they have been this past decade.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition, which campaigns to improve services for vulnerable children and young people, commented: “The comments over a cut in specialist teachers reinforce concerns we have raised for some time now about a potential ‘lost generation’ of vulnerable children and young people.
“It is vital that those with ASN get the care and support they need, especially during and as we come out of the current COVID-19 crisis. This is also key if we are to genuinely close the educational attainment gap as we know that those with ASN disproportionately come from lower income families and areas of deprivation.
“Such a situation is clearly challenging during lockdown, when the educational attainment gap will inevitably widen, and with evidence of cuts in spending per pupil with ASN and in the number of specialist teachers supporting this group.
“The cost to society in the long term if adequate support is not provided will far outweigh any potential savings made today.
“Ensuring the adequate provision of educational support for children young people with ASN is critical and yet too many pupils are missing out on the specialist support they require because of cuts in specialist support at a time of increasing need.
“When children and young people with ASN return to school it is vital that we use this as an opportunity to give them the specialist support they need, ensuring that we can address increased inequalities that will have inevitably arisen due to lockdown.”
Youth-led campaign aims to raise awareness of young carers to supermarkets during lockdown
Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament have started a campaign on the issue of supermarket access for young carers and young adult carers during this Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.
This campaign has been set up by Ilse Cuthbertson MSYP, Carers Trust Scotland and Aaran McDonald MSYP, Cunninghame South.
During lockdown, a significant and recurring issue raised by young carers is that some are still not getting access to supermarkets during protected hours set aside for vulnerable groups.
Young carers are facing age discrimination and refusal to access if they are accompanied by family members.
One young person got in touch with their MSYP, and said: “After waiting in the long queue, a member of staff said they were only allowing 2 people into the store per family. After explaining I am a young carer, the staff member still couldn’t understand why there needed to be two carers.
“I had to further explain my caring responsibilities for my brother and mum before the member of staff finally allowed us in. This was an emotional and frustrating situation and no young carer should need to go through this.”
There is also inconsistency of messaging by supermarkets across the UK, and even from store to store. Furthermore, a number of carers are struggling to get access to online shopping or difficulty meeting the minimum expenditure for online shopping. This issue also intertwines with carer identification.
#Supermarkets4Change aims to raise awareness of unpaid carers with local supermarkets and to include these young people in the protected hours set aside for vulnerable groups.
MSYPs have written to local supermarket stores on behalf of their constituents, raising awareness of who young carers are, and why it is important to include these young people in dedicated shopping times.
Ilse Cuthbertson, MSYP and Aaran McDonald, MSYP said: “We wanted to start #Supermarkets4Change as young carers and young adult carers have been approaching us due to the lack of understanding within supermarkets.
“We have learnt that this is not just an issue locally but nationally. This is an extremely important issue right now. We hope that supermarkets will start to understand the role that a young carer or young adult carer has.”
This campaign also aims to empower young people to take action. MSYPs have created a template letter and are sharing this with as many young people as possible.
If a young person is aware of this issue in their local community, they can use this template to write to the local store manager. Young people are encouraged to share this on social media using the hashtag #Supermarkets4Change so we can raise greater awareness!
Young people can also get in touch with Ilse and Aaran for support on this:
Keep up to date with the campaign on social media: @ReleaseCap/ @CarersTrustScot/ @ilsecmsyp / @MSYPAaran/ #Supermarkets4Change
Eight out of 10 British men find it helpful when people ask if they’re having a difficult time – yet nearly half (46%) say no one has checked to find out how they are coping during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research.
Figures released to mark the start of Mental Health Awareness Week by global men’s health charity Movember, exploring the impact of COVID-19 on social connections, reveal that almost a quarter (22 per cent) of men surveyed had not checked in with friends or family to find out how they were doing during the crisis.
The survey of 1,451 Britons was commissioned by Movember and carried out by the Social Research Centre as part of a global study.
It found that approximately a third of men (33 per cent and 28 per cent respectively) felt their relationships with work colleagues and friends had weakened since the physical distancing restrictions had been imposed.
Older men are the group most likely to have experienced poorer social connections, with 62 per cent of men aged 45+ years reporting they feel less connected to their friends since the COVID-19 outbreak, compared with 41 per cent of men aged 25 to 34.
More than a fifth of men (22 per cent) reported their mental health had worsened compared with before the outbreak of COVID-19 and a third (29 per cent) admitted they felt lonely more often.
Dr Zac Seidler, Director of Mental Health Training, at Movember said: “These findings indicate that guys are hungry for connection and in need of support in these trying times.
“While we know these conversations can often feel uncomfortable or awkward, checking in on your mates and loved ones can make the world of difference. Don’t assume they don’t want to be bothered or don’t want to talk. Just making the call can go a long way.”
Movember is committed to tackling the crisis in men’s mental health through its investment in early intervention and prevention programs.
According to Brendan Maher, Movember Global Director of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, this is why the charity has launched Movember Conversations, a new easy-to-use interactive online tool, that offers practical guidance on how to start a difficult conversation and support someone who is struggling.
He said: “People know it’s important to have conversations to support others; however, confidence and knowledge around how to do this with men is low. What’s making things even harder are the challenges thrown up by COVID-19, and its consequences of physical distancing, job loss, financial stress and strain on relationships.”
Based on R U OK?’s ALEC conversation framework (Ask, Listen, Encourage action, Check in) and guided by an international team of mental health experts, Movember Conversations is a free interactive digital tool that presents a number of scenarios relevant to today’s world including job loss, social isolation and family pressures.
It uses simulated conversations to explore and practise how anyone might navigate a difficult conversation with someone they care about.
Brendan Maher added: “We hope that this tool will encourage people to have conversations with men they care about who might be going through a tough time. Movember Conversations gives them the practical skills to do that.”
CASE STUDY
Steve Smith, 55, from Newbury Berkshire, Cyber Security Manager, married with 2 adult kids. Served in the UK Armed Forces.
“Since the lockdown, I’ve found that I have isolated myself more from my network of buddies, I dropped off Facebook because of the amount of dross being shared and some peoples’ extreme views. Dropping out of Facebook has isolated me further from some of my normal contacts and sources of banter, so it has had a negative impact too.
A group of my best mates always attend the Army v Navy rugby match each year and later we do British SuperBikes at Thruxton. Both take a few weeks of planning and lots of banter on group chats to get things co-ordinated – we have done both events for over a decade. “This has all been put on hold and has left a big gap as many of the things we have in common which mean we communicate are now on hold, hence we are not talking as much as there is less reason.
“I have a friend I work with who has split up with his wife just a few weeks before lockdown. He hasn’t left the house for days at a time. I tell him during work conference calls to call or text me if he needs me, but he doesn’t. He then tells me he’s very low during work calls and so the cycle repeats – 7 weeks now, and sometimes it’s really tough having those conversations and I don’t know what to say. I think there are many men like my friend, lonely and not helping themselves.”
I know how important it is to talk openly because I’ve suffered from anxiety and depression in the past. ‘Years of bottling up my emotions saw me make plans to end my life – but seeking professional help taught me how to change my way of thinking.”
Movember Conversations can found at conversations.movember.com
