This week is Loneliness Awareness Week (14-18 June), when people and organisations join together to raise awareness of loneliness. Go at your own place. Do What feels right for you, no one else. We all get lonely. But we don’t all get loneliness.

Loneliness is something that can affect any one of us at any point in our lives, and this issue has become something even more of us have had to deal with over the last year. With social distancing restrictions steadily lifting, Loneliness Awareness Week continues to be as important as ever. Not just as a reminder that many people will continue to struggle with loneliness and isolation after lockdown, but also to reinforce the importance of social connections.

This year the #LetsTalkLoneliness campaign has joined together with some incredible organisations on some innovative ways to help those dealing with loneliness, as well as tips on how you can help create connections this Loneliness Awareness Week and beyond. #BetterHealth #WeGetLonely

Visit the website letstalkloneliness.co.uk/

Also read our blog on Mental Health Awareness Week and Men’s Mental Health – A Growing Crisis.

Loneliness Awareness Week – Support Services

Find a support group that suits you… If you can’t reach out to friends or family, or you want to talk to someone in confidence or know someone who may need some help, the organisations listed below are here to help you.

Organisations that can help – Talk about how you feel;

– For the Samaritans call 116 123 for free or email at jo@samaritans.org

– Silverline: for people aged 55 and over, call 0800 4 70 80 90 for free

– The Mix provides free, confidential help for under 25s online and via a helpline. Call 0808 808 4494, text THEMIX to 85258 or use their online chat service on the website.

– If you are lonely or finding it difficult to cope in these uncertain times, call the free and confidential British Red Cross coronavirus support line on 0808 196 3651, open 10am to 6pm every day.

Online communities you could join;

– For over 18s: www.sidebyside.mind.org.uk

– For parents: www.mumsnet.com

– For grandparents: www.gransnet.com

– Male Loneliness BEN: ben.org.uk

– For carers: www.carersuk.org/forum

Further sources of advice and support;

– For over 55s visit www.thesilverline.org.uk

– For older people, their families, friends, carers and professionals visit Age UK at or call 0800 678 1602

– For older people, their families and carers visit Independent Age www.independentage.org  at or call 0800 319 6789 for free

– For carers: visit Carers Trust, call 0808 808 7777 or email advice@carersuk.org https://carers.org/

– For people experiencing relationship difficulties visit Relate www.relate.org.uk

– The British Red Cross Tackling Loneliness Digitally programme has developed some new resources to help build confidence, coping skills and connections for adults and young people.

– The Campaign to End Loneliness www.campaigntoendloneliness.org

Looking after your own or someone else’s mental health;

– NHS Every Mind Matters www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/

– Mind Mental Health Charity has lots of resources online. You can also call their Infoline service at 0300 123 3393 or text 86464 or email info@mind.org.uk for further information

– Government advice on looking after mental health and wellbeing during coronavirus, and NHS advice on loneliness.