Lockdown is helping us to talk about loneliness – Minister

Baroness Diana Barran said that although loneliness had been a "huge problem" long before Covid-19, it had become "alive in everybody's minds" since the country was plunged into weeks of isolation.

And she said that while the impact of loneliness on people's mental health was concerning, it was good that it was now talked about more openly.

It came as the Government launched a major effort to tackle loneliness and social isolation during the lockdown, including new funding and support for charities in the sector.

Baroness Barran, who was appointed Minister for Loneliness last year, told the Star that loneliness was a long-standing issue which had traditionally "carried a stigma with it".

"People were embarrassed to talk about it, but what's changed with the pandemic is just how alive it is in everybody's minds," she said.

"I hope there is less stigma about it at the moment, and I think people are becoming more confident in talking about it.

"The evidence is pretty strong that it is helpful if you do talk about these things.

"It can be theraputic and healing in itself. If you say to somebody, 'I was feeling really lonely the other day', you almost always get back a response saying 'that happened to me the other week'.

"You are never made to feel stupid. It opens the door for people to talk about their own experience and reduces that sense feeling that you are the only one that this affects."

Baroness Barran said that during the pandemic the ability to communicate online had been "hugely beneficial" in terms of bringing people together.

She said this was particularly true for young people, who tended to report the highest levels of loneliness.

"Obviously there is a darker side to social media, the whole dynamic around people feeling they have to look a certain way when all of us know that nobody's life is perfect," she added.

"I think there's also a bit more realisation about that now.

"On balance social media and the ability to connect online has been an extraordinary help for the vast majority of people in the current situation."

She said she hopes the new #Let’sTalkLoneliness campaign will normalise discussing the issue, leading to "a greater sense of connection and belonging in our communities in a way that we had less of going into this pandemic".

The campaign stresses that staying at home does not need to lead to loneliness, and offers guidance and support for people who are feeling isolated.

Visit letstalkloneliness.co.uk/ for more details.