This year, the Mental Health Foundation’s Mental Health Awareness Week highlighted the links between mental health and loneliness, hoping to dispel the stigma that there is shame linked to the feeling of loneliness.
Although Gabi managed to drag herself into work every day, she started relying on small amounts of alcohol in the evenings to cope with the dark thoughts swirling around in her mind. Loneliness and social isolation are not necessarily synonymous, according to Catherine Seymour. A person can feel lonely while surrounded by people, and likewise, someone may be socially isolated, but not feel lonely.
As she awaited an appointment with a psychologist, Gabi began to tell people about what was going on, starting with a select group of people in work and close friends. ‘It felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders,; she admits. ‘They were all really supportive.’ Although not every person feeling lonely will be suicidal, it is third most common topic people contact the Samaritans helpline about. ‘As loneliness is different for everyone, the calls vary,’ explains Joe Potter, Policy Manager at Samaritans.
Couple friends she had disappeared off the scene following the split too. ‘You lose friends with a divorce,’ Su explains. ‘The people we used to go for dinner or the cinema with – when you’re not a couple, they’re not interested.’ In the first twelve months of the pandemic, Su grappled with her loneliness. ‘I got very, very depressed,’ she recalls.
Su’s saving grace during those months were her wide array of animals – three cats, a bearded dragon, a leopard gecko, jumping spiders, millipedes, and isopods. ‘They were the reason I got out of bed,’ she admits. ‘Otherwise, I might have just stayed in bed all day, got up for a bath, and went back to bed again.’
I could feel myself becoming lonelier by the day, but put a brave face on for my kids, colleagues, and friends. I was everyone’s confidant and felt I had to keep strong for them. After staying one night in hospital, I was released back home as there wasn’t enough space in hospital for me to stay longer. I got home and went straight to the local park to attempt and shake the suicidal feelings that were still swirling around in my brain.In the days following my attempt, I started to talk more openly about my feelings and experiences with the people closest to me. I had never done that before. Never told them I felt lonely inside.
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UK house prices slow as cost of living climbs\n\t\t\tKeep abreast of significant corporate, financial and political developments around the world.\n\t\t\tStay informed and spot emerging risks and opportunities with independent global reporting, expert\n\t\t\tcommentary and analysis you can trust.\n\t\t How do I purchase a house -- must I be on a celebrity wage to afford one instantly i.e. tomorrow or perhaps the next month 🤔 . Yeah get ready for the drop - inflated values encouraged by low interest rates and speculation Keep an eye on the (not free) market; it will be hilarious. Minor drop say 0.5-1% for what do we reckon, year and a half? Then 8-10% increase year on year thereafter. Watch the govt come in with interventions to save house price rises (MPs investments) above all else!
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