Mental health week took place in May, and this year, the theme was about connecting with others.
Loneliness can affect many of us at one time or another and we can encounter it in different walks of life. According to Mental Health UK, one in five people feel lonely on a typical working day.
- Our society is changing fast. The pandemic has given rise to a sense of loneliness and isolation undermining confidence in daily routines. In recent times, many of us have had far less access to loved ones. Tech is enabling healthcare professionals to see more patients without the need to travel, but on the flip side of the coin, convenience and cost efficiencies are driving more and more activities online.
- Our workplaces are also changing. With many adapting to home and hybrid working, we need to embrace this change while building and maintaining meaningful connections with our colleagues.
- We know that loneliness can be both the driver for and a product of poor mental health.
Changes in society because of the pandemic have contributed to a sense of isolation. We have had less access to loved ones, and more and more activities have been moved online. Many of us have had to adapt to home or hybrid methods of work and study. This has meant losing out on valuable face-to-face interactions with friends and colleagues.
Everyone can help in their own way to tackle loneliness, isolation and barriers to connection, whether that’s by helping others, or by accessing support or tools that we have available.
Ideas to help yourself and others:
- Visit our Health and wellbeing hub
This hub has a wealth of support and advice for our staff and students, including access to Silvercloud, a digital mental health platform that’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Training modules are also available to support our whole community.
- Try to listen and be welcoming to others
It’s important to make teams or groups as welcoming as possible, especially to newcomers. Flexibility on how people can attend groups or meetings is important. We have a colleague conversation compass for those who are working from home.
- Become a volunteer
Becoming a volunteer offers you the chance to learn new skills, meet new people, and make a positive impact in society. Here at Durham, we actively encourage staff and students to volunteer and we have links with nearly 200 charities and community initiatives. University staff have allocated work time for volunteering each year. For more details, visit our website.
- Ask for support if you need it
Ruby Tomlinson, a final-year student at Van Mildert, has written a piece on Student support at Durham and further help and advice is available on the Mental Health UK website.