Mentions:
1: Deidre Brock (SNP - Edinburgh North and Leith) According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, in 2022 nearly 50% of adults in the UK reported feeling - Speech Link
2: Stuart Andrew (Con - Pudsey) Lady mentioned loneliness. - Speech Link
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increases in the cost-of-living on trends in the level of social isolation; and whether her Department is taking steps to help tackle social isolation.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Many people experience loneliness and social isolation, and the government is committed to building a more connected society, where everyone is able to build meaningful relationships. Having strong social relationships plays an important role in our physical and mental wellbeing, and government, local councils, health systems and voluntary and community sector organisations all have an important role to play in tackling loneliness.
The Community Life Survey, which the department publishes annually, measures loneliness and collects data on people’s social interactions and support networks. Last year we also published research into the factors associated with loneliness in adults, and found that being on a lower income or unemployed was a contributing factor. We also engage regularly with stakeholders like the Jo Cox Foundation, who are monitoring the impact of cost of living pressures on individuals and charities providing services that aim to reduce loneliness.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is also delivering the ‘Know Your Neighbourhood Fund’ to boost volunteering and reduce loneliness in 27 disadvantaged areas across England. The £30 million fund will create thousands of opportunities to bring people together, allow them to develop skills, build relationships and feel more connected to their community.
As announced at the Spring Budget, the department is also delivering a £101.5 million package of support for charities and community organisations in England. As part of this, the £76 million Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund is currently open until 16 October 2023 for applications from frontline organisations, including those that tackle social isolation, that are seeing increased demand for their services and increased delivery costs because of cost of living pressures.
Jun. 12 2023
Source Page: Research exploring the stigma associated with lonelinessFound: Research exploring the stigma associated with loneliness
Jun. 12 2023
Source Page: Research exploring the stigma associated with lonelinessFound: Research exploring the stigma associated with loneliness
Asked by: Lennon, Monica (Scottish Labour - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Big Braw Community campaign launched by The Sunday Post with the aim of reducing loneliness and isolation.
Answered by Roddick, Emma - Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees
The Scottish Government welcomes all initiatives that support our work to tackle social isolation and loneliness, a public health issue which has been exacerbated because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to be affected by the ongoing cost crisis.
The Social Isolation and Loneliness Strategy, and associated delivery plan that was published in 2023, outlines the strategic actions and priorities we are taking to tackle this issue. This includes funding support to 53 organisations across Scotland delivering community-led activity that responds to local needs by providing opportunities for people to connect. Priority groups targeted by the fund are young people (aged 16-24), disabled people, people with a mental health condition, older people (aged 75+) and people living in areas of deprivation or on a low income.
Since 2021, we have invested £51m in our Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults, with 3,300 grants being made to local organisations across Scotland to tackle issues including social isolation.
The Scottish Government encourages the Big Braw Community campaign to engage with the Social Isolation and Loneliness Advisory Group to explore collaborative working on this issue.
Jun. 12 2023
Source Page: Research exploring the stigma associated with lonelinessFound: Research exploring the stigma associated with loneliness
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help improve men's mental health services.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Between 2018/19 and 2023/24, National Health Service spending on mental health has increased by £4.7 billion in cash terms, as compared to the target of £3.4 billion in cash terms set out at the time of the Long Term Plan. Almost £16 billion was invested into mental health in 2022/23, enabling 3.6 million people, including men, to be in contact with mental health services, a 10% increase on the previous year.
In addition, our campaign on dealing with loneliness as part of the Better Health: Every Mind Matters campaign, encouraged people, including men, to reach out and support others who may be feeling lonely, helping themselves to also feel more connected. We will continue to work across the Government and with our Tackling Loneliness Network to explore how we can support further action to tackle men’s loneliness.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help men identify poor mental health symptoms.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Between 2018/19 and 2023/24, National Health Service spending on mental health has increased by £4.7 billion in cash terms, as compared to the target of £3.4 billion in cash terms set out at the time of the Long Term Plan. Almost £16 billion was invested into mental health in 2022/23, enabling 3.6 million people, including men, to be in contact with mental health services, a 10% increase on the previous year.
In addition, our campaign on dealing with loneliness as part of the Better Health: Every Mind Matters campaign, encouraged people, including men, to reach out and support others who may be feeling lonely, helping themselves to also feel more connected. We will continue to work across the Government and with our Tackling Loneliness Network to explore how we can support further action to tackle men’s loneliness.
Mentions:
1: McArthur, Liam (LD - Orkney Islands) to live as well as possible, in promoting positive views of ageing and later life, and in tackling loneliness - Speech Link
2: Gibson, Kenneth (SNP - Cunninghame North) , but I will mention the recently launched social isolation and loneliness fund, which will provide £3.2 - Speech Link
3: Roddick, Emma (SNP - Highlands and Islands) I was glad to hear Mr Gibson mention our social isolation and loneliness fund. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Greene, Jamie (Con - West Scotland) ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government can promote and assist organisations that tackle loneliness - Speech Link
2: Yousaf, Humza (SNP - Glasgow Pollok) Money worries, loneliness and grief are just a few of the issues that people are confronted with during - Speech Link
3: Greene, Jamie (Con - West Scotland) Grief, loss, depression, domestic abuse and, indeed, loneliness are the unwelcome gifts that the season - Speech Link
4: Yousaf, Humza (SNP - Glasgow Pollok) As we all know, anybody, in any demographic, can be impacted by mental health challenges, loneliness - Speech Link