About Parenting NI
Parenting NI is the lead voluntary organisation, which focuses on parents. The mission of the organisation is to provide a range of accessible services and support to meet the needs of those in a parenting role. We work with parents to improve outcomes for children and young people and to influence policy and practice on parenting. The work is based on the principle that by empowering and working with parents, outcomes for children are improved.
What is Loneliness?
Loneliness is a normal human emotion. Without the right support, however, it can often transition from a temporary problem into a chronic one. Left unaddressed, loneliness can be very damaging to physical and mental health and lead to long-term difficulties in connecting with others.
Loneliness is a ‘subjective and unwelcome feeling which results from a mismatch in the quality and quantity of social relationships we have and those we desire.’[1]
Loneliness is often linked to social isolation but it is not the same thing. Social isolation is objective, describing the quantity of social connections a person has, whereas loneliness is deeply personal and depends on the quality of relationships. Factors that cause loneliness are often outside a person’s control and challenging to manage without support. This includes; psychological (sense of self, confidence), community (services, social activities, transport), and society (stigma, cultural norms, financial). Often multiple factors cause feelings of loneliness.
Research
Loneliness is a major public health issue. The risk to health is comparable to obesity, physical inactivity and air pollution, and it increases the risk of developing heart disease and depression among other issues.[2] Research has shown that loneliness increases the likelihood of mortality by 26%.[3]
In addition to the impact on people’s health and wellbeing, loneliness is detrimental to wider society, public health and the economy. It is estimated that severe loneliness has an overall monetary cost in the UK of at least £9,530 per person per year.[4]
Loneliness affects people of all ages and backgrounds. However, particular groups are more vulnerable to loneliness and certain life events such as divorce, moving home or the impact of a health condition can trigger loneliness at any stage in life.
For example, NISRA research found that more than one quarter (25.3%) of people living in the most deprived areas reported being lonely ‘at least some of the time’ in comparison to 13.5% in the least deprived areas.[5] Levels of loneliness are also higher among carers, disabled people, people with a learning disability, those suffering bereavement, the LGBTQ+ community and minority ethnic communities.
Becoming a parent is a big change and is a time when people are more vulnerable to loneliness[6]. 87% of parents feel they do not get enough support while 60% have said that social isolation or loneliness has caused them concern.[7]
Our calls
While valuable work is happening across Northern Ireland to support people impacted by loneliness, a step change in efforts is required to tackle this issue on a long-term basis.
Parenting NI, working with partner organisations in the Action Group for Loneliness, are campaigning for urgent development of a bespoke Loneliness Strategy for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK that does not have a standalone Loneliness Strategy. A fully resourced, cross-departmental NI Loneliness Strategy led by The Executive Office would align the different work currently being undertaken and enshrine a cross sector framework of initiatives to address loneliness comprehensively.
Parenting NI believes a Loneliness Strategy for Northern Ireland should:
- Support and develop infrastructure to tackle loneliness and increase social connections for parents
2. Promote and support opportunities for peer support for parents
3. Develop specific loneliness measures responsive to single parents, one parent families and parents that have children with additional needs
4. Lead a public awareness campaign on loneliness
5. Allocate sustainable funding to ensure services are provided for the long-term
Support available
Parenting NI encourage parents to use our Information and Support Line/web chat to speak to a Parent Support Officer who will provide a supportive listening ear and help guide parents to the services that may be most appropriate to them depending on their own unique circumstances.
Parenting NI have some resources online that provide advice and signposting for parents including an article about parent emotional health and wellbeing which can be accessed from here.
Further information including top tips and contact details can be found at www.parentingni.org.
