Councils admit loneliness should be treated as '˜major public health issue'

The Yorkshire Post has been campaigning for loneliness to be treated seriously as a health issue since February 2014.
Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire — The Yorkshire Post has been campaigning for loneliness to be treated seriously as a health issue since February 2014. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

LONELINESS is a significant and growing concern that should be treated as a 'major public health issue', council leaders have said.

Echoing calls first made by the Yorkshire Post’s Loneliness: The Hidden Epidemic campaign almost two years ago, the Local Government Association (LGA) said that urgent action must be taken to address the issue.

In February 2014 we revealed how 91,300 older people in our region were suffering from loneliness - yet nine councils failed to take it seriously in their Health and Wellbeing Strategies.

Now the LGA plans to launch a new guide to help councils assist the elderly.

“Loneliness is a significant and growing concern for many older people and is something that is now being identified as a major public health issue,” said LGA spokeswoman for public health Izzi Seccombe.

“The impact of loneliness can be devastating and costly - with consequences comparable to smoking and obesity.

“This can be prevented with early intervention, which a number of councils are already successfully delivering in partnership with volunteer and community organisations.”

Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s charity director, added: “It is a serious condition which can be enormously damaging, both mentally and physically.”