Festive time loneliness bad for your health

BEING lonely during the festive season is as bad for your health as suffering from a chronic disease.

British research has shown that lonely people are about 40% more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke, said Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairperson of the Royal College of GPs.

She stressed that the festive season could “amplify” feelings of social isolation.

While many older people were on their own over the festive period, studies have shown one in 20 adults always feel lonely.

Stokes-Lampard said: “Any festival or gathering where people get together can extenuate or magnify feelings of being isolated or lonely.

“People usually are already vulnerable.

“As a GP, we see the adverse impact these things have on people’s health.

“These are as bad as chronic diseases to your health.”

An Age UK study found that Christmas was “just another day” for 530 000 over-65s, with many grieving for people they had lost and recalling happier times.

Statistics this month showed one in 10 children often feel lonely.

Stokes-Lampard encouraged people to be “good citizens” and speak to friends and neighbours in “moments of meaningful connection”.

She said this should include “not just saying hi or waving to the neighbour, but actually saying: ‘How are things going?’ Having a little chat. Checking in on people in more than a trivial way.”

Dr Amanda Thompsell, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, is calling for old and young people to swop skills to tackle loneliness.

That could see youngsters taught how to sew on buttons, while teaching pensioners about technology.