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The impact of loneliness to be studied by Holyrood inquiry | The impact of loneliness to be studied by Holyrood inquiry |
(1 day later) | |
People who suffer problems as a result of being lonely will be the subject of a new Scottish Parliament inquiry. | People who suffer problems as a result of being lonely will be the subject of a new Scottish Parliament inquiry. |
MSPs said they wanted to tackle an issue which has been linked to a rise in mental and physical illness. | MSPs said they wanted to tackle an issue which has been linked to a rise in mental and physical illness. |
The move by Holyrood's equal opportunities committee came as research has suggested more people have nobody to turn to in a crisis. | The move by Holyrood's equal opportunities committee came as research has suggested more people have nobody to turn to in a crisis. |
MSPs aim to make a series of recommendations in the summer to help tackle the problem. | MSPs aim to make a series of recommendations in the summer to help tackle the problem. |
Feelings of isolation affect people of all ages and backgrounds, and have been linked to mental health issues and physical problems such as smoking, obesity and premature death. | Feelings of isolation affect people of all ages and backgrounds, and have been linked to mental health issues and physical problems such as smoking, obesity and premature death. |
The price of loneliness | The price of loneliness |
After her husband died, Bunty Dickson suffered a dramatic loss of confidence, even with the support of her family. | After her husband died, Bunty Dickson suffered a dramatic loss of confidence, even with the support of her family. |
The 84-year-old, from Motherwell, said: "My husband Alec and I would have celebrated our 60th anniversary this year. We were always together. | The 84-year-old, from Motherwell, said: "My husband Alec and I would have celebrated our 60th anniversary this year. We were always together. |
"After he was diagnosed with dementia I cared for him for six years and it could be hard. But I just felt lost after he was gone. | "After he was diagnosed with dementia I cared for him for six years and it could be hard. But I just felt lost after he was gone. |
"The loneliness was terrible. Many of the friends we knew had died. I spent a lot of time just watching television. I didn't see the point in going out. | "The loneliness was terrible. Many of the friends we knew had died. I spent a lot of time just watching television. I didn't see the point in going out. |
Bunty's doctor put her in touch with a specialist support worker at North Lanarkshire Council, and she began attending a local group. | |
"One day a lady came to the group who turned out to be an old friend of mine," she said. | "One day a lady came to the group who turned out to be an old friend of mine," she said. |
"I've been going to the groups twice a week for a year now. | "I've been going to the groups twice a week for a year now. |
"My daughter says I always used to be a sociable person and she's so impressed by the way my confidence is coming back." | "My daughter says I always used to be a sociable person and she's so impressed by the way my confidence is coming back." |
The equal opportunities committee said it wanted to hear from people who experience loneliness and organisations trying to combat it. | The equal opportunities committee said it wanted to hear from people who experience loneliness and organisations trying to combat it. |
Committee convener, Labour MSP Margaret McCulloch, said: "If you are an older or younger person living in Scotland and experiencing loneliness we understand the effects can be devastating. | Committee convener, Labour MSP Margaret McCulloch, said: "If you are an older or younger person living in Scotland and experiencing loneliness we understand the effects can be devastating. |
"We want to encourage best practice on combating the effects of loneliness to be shared as widely as possible." | "We want to encourage best practice on combating the effects of loneliness to be shared as widely as possible." |
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