Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has hosted a roundtable at the Scottish Parliament to bring communities, charities and organisations together to bring an end to the loneliness and isolation that is causing a public health and well-being crisis across the country.
Edinburgh is classed as one of the loneliest places to live in the UK. Changing Britain research found that 33 per cent of Edinburgh citizens do not feel that they are involved or feel part of the community.
The cost-of-living crisis is adding to the awful knock-on effects of loneliness and isolation particularly in older people, where it has been shown to increase the risks of dementia by 50%, and heart attacks and stroke by 30%.
The roundtable was attended by a range of charities who are leaders in the field of social isolation and measures to reduce it’s impact on individuals in communities across the country.
Also speaking was Dr Jane Morris, Head of the Royal College of Psychiatry, to talk on the effects on mental health. As well as Dr Morris, Police Scotland’s specialist on scammers and fraudsters who target the elderly and isolated, DCI Steven Trim, spoke at the roundtable.
Mr Briggs has previously called on SNP Ministers to provide great funding to tackle loneliness and social isolation in Scotland.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “I am pleased that we have had the opportunity to discuss measures to reduce loneliness and social isolation across Lothian and the rest of Scotland.
“From the roundtable it was clear that people are passionate about tackling loneliness in Scotland.
“Feeling lonely is a horrible feeling and I am optimistic that we can take forward actions that will prevent people in communities up and down the country from feeling lonely.
“This was a very productive roundtable and there is plenty of work to be getting on with to make people feel more connected across Scotland.”