In line with the recommendations of a parliamentary commission, in order to combat the isolation that affects more than 1 in 10 people in the UK, a Minister of Loneliness has been appointed by Theresa May.
The goal is to fight against what she calls “ the sad reality of modern life ”, which affects millions of people.
TRACEY CROUCH
Tracey Crouch, Minister of Sport and the Olympic Games, will be in charge of the mission. “ I want to confront this challenge for our society and for all of us to take action to address the loneliness endured by the elderly, by carers, by those who have lost loved ones — people who have no one to talk to or share their thoughts and experiences with ”, the prime minister added.
A majority of people over 75 live alone in the UK, including about 200,000 who say they have not had a conversation with a friend or family member for more than a month, according to the British Red Cross.
The Campaign to End Loneliness reports that most British doctors claim to see between one and five patients a day, who come mainly because they feel lonely. Sources: AFP CNews, 18.01.2018
“ More than half of men and women over 75 in Britain live alone. Three-quarters of older people say they are lonely, and more than a third of these feel their loneliness is “out of their control”. Most admit that they have never spoken to friends or family about how they feel. ”
According to Robbie, 91 years-old “ loneliness is not having somebody to do nothing with ”.
“ Lonely people feel they should be connected, and if they feel disconnected, alienated, then that must mean they’ve made a mistake – or that they’ve been pushed into this by fate, or by something they’ve done. This can often involve a combination of paranoia and a very high level of judgmentalism about others. So they’re trapped both ways: they feel judged and they’re also judgmental. ”
Sources: The Economist – Maggie Fergusson “ In solitude what happiness ? ” – February – March 2018.
The International Federation of Little Brothers of the Poor, which will held its international congress in May 2018 will have the privilege to welcome members of the Campaign to End Loneliness team to share about their awareness-raising work.
