December - Loneliness & Isolation

Connect with people, connect with community

Annual Public Health Report key messages

  • Feeling lonely can be harmful to your health: Sometimes we can feel lonely, but this can be harmful in the long-term.
  • Take action – we can help: It’s difficult to take the first step, but we can help you to learn a new skill or take up a new hobby.
  • Help others: Volunteering within your community or even online communities is a great way to do good whilst combatting loneliness

What is loneliness?

Feeling alone is something everyone experiences at some point. But if it happens for a long time, it can seriously harm your mental and physical health. Loneliness can affect anyone at any age.

It is important to know that loneliness is different from simply being alone. Some people enjoy spending time by themselves and don’t feel lonely, while others may want more social interaction. Everyone's preferences for social interaction are different, and this is entirely normal.

This video by Nuffield Health explains how loneliness affects your health and wellbeing.

 

How is loneliness linked to my mental health?

Loneliness can have a big impact on your mental health. When you feel lonely for long periods, it can lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It can also make it harder to cope with everyday stress. This increases the risk of developing mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.

Loneliness can also create a cycle where the lonelier you feel, the harder it becomes to reach out to other people, which then worsens feelings of loneliness. In serious cases, this can make existing mental health problems worse.

Taking the first steps to break this cycle is hard, but we can help you to do this and improve your mental health and wellbeing.  Follow the drop-down options below to find out how.

How can I manage feelings of loneliness?

There are lots of ways that you can manage feelings of loneliness, or stop them from happening in the first place. It is important to remember that different things work for different people and at different times, so only try what you are comfortable with. Some ideas may be reaching out to friends or making new connections. You can find more useful information about how to manage loneliness at the mental health charity Mind.

If you are not sure where to make a start, contact SWISH (Support and Wellbeing Information Service Harrow) on 020 8515 7867 or email support@SWISHHarrow.org.uk or contact your GP to connect with a social prescriber who will help you link with the community. 

This video from Nuffield health might also help.

 

What should I do if I need help right now?

If you feel like you need to speak someone right now and that there is no one around, please consider calling the team at Samaritans for free on 116 123, or by e-mailing them at jo@samaritans.org.  Age UK's Silver Line Helpline (0800 4 70 80 90) is a free, confidential helpline providing friendship to older people – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

How could I help other people that might be lonely?

If you know someone who is feeling lonely, you could do simple things like giving them a call, inviting them for a walk, catching up over a coffee or sending a text message. This will help any feelings of loneliness you might have too.

Local community organisations provide a variety of volunteering opportunities to help others and make new connections. Visit the following site to explore opportunities:

What services are available in Harrow to help?

There are many sources of help for you in Harrow. The ones you want to access may depend on your own personal needs and preferences. These include Community Hubs, the Conversation Café, Harrow Health Walks, JOY and many other befriending, activity or mental health services.

The drop-down options below provide more information and links to their websites.

Harrow Community Hubs

The Community Hubs are run by local charities and community organisations, and they are located across Harrow. They offer a welcoming space for you to meet people and get involved in activities, like art and craft, games, physical activities and digital literacy sessions. Some offer hot drinks and meals. Visit Harrow Giving online for a list of venues and programme of activities.

This video also has more information about the Community Hubs.

 

Harrow Health Walks

Harrow Health Walks are a fantastic way to meet people, be active and enjoy the outdoors – all for free. These volunteer-led walks take place across the borough and vary in length and difficulty to give everyone a chance to benefit. You can find more information about the health walks here.

Harrow JOY – the online Directory of Services

JOY provide an extensive online Directory of Services. Visit their Joy app online – set the location ‘Harrow’ or your postcode to find activities and services in your neighbourhood.

Conversation Café

The Conversation Café is a welcoming and safe place that you can drop into. You can go along to meet and have a chat with people over tea and coffee, and also find support from friendly staff from Harrow Council. You have options to go at multiple times in the week, in different places. You can find more information about the Conversation Café here.

Befriending and activity options in Harrow

Harrow libraries have friendly reading groups that you could join, visit their website for more information. The Home Library Service is available to residents who are unable to visit their local library due to a disability or illness. Contact the team on 020 3714 7741 or home.library@harrowlibraries.org.uk

Local Age UK runs monthly Good Neighbour Reconnection Club and a weekly Knitting Club for older people.  More details can be found on the Age UK website.

Caring responsibility can restrict social connectedness. Harrow Carer’s befriending service for elderly carers offers a regular visit by a ‘friend’ for a coffee and a chat about whatever they choose, allowing carers to enjoy a brief respite from their caring role. Find more information on the Harrow Carers website.

Harrow Council’s dementia hubs offer comfortable environment to relax, socialise and meet other people with dementia, and their carers. For further information and booking visit them online or call 020 8736 640

Resourceful Women’s Network offers women only activities such as knitting circles, drop-in for chat and online meditation or yoga classes. Find more information on their Resourceful Women's Network website.

HAD (Harrow Association of Disabled people) will help with information for activities for those with disabilities. Visit the HAD website for more details.

Middlesex Association for the Blind offers a ‘Befriending/Home Visiting Service’.  This service is available for anyone who has a visual impairment who is over the age of 18. Visit eaftb.org.uk or contact them on 02084325141 or info@aftb.org.uk for details.

Young Harrow Foundation - Visit their local Young People’s Directory for activities, services and organisations for young people aged 12 to 25.

Sources of help for your mental health

If you are in distress or experiencing a mental health crisis and feeling lonely, contact Harrow Cove on 07407305206 or BH.Cove@hestia.org for their group activities. You can also find more information on the Hestia website.

Heads Up is youth mental wellbeing partnership for people under 25 that organises events, training and workshops. You can find more information at www.mindinharrow.org.

You can find more information about mental health services in Harrow on a dedicated webpage.

Key dates and events

Loneliness Awareness Week will run between 9-15 June 2025. This highlights the issue of loneliness to get people talking about it and think about how we can address it.