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LGA responds to ONS report on loneliness

Councillor Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responding to the Office for National Statistics report on the characteristics and circumstances of loneliness in England

“The harm loneliness can cause, both physically and mentally, can be devastating to people of all ages - it is a serious public health concern which studies suggest can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

“Councils across the country have a range of programmes and initiatives in place to tackle loneliness and work closely with voluntary organisations and faith groups to support vulnerable people in the community.

“But councils can only do so much. We all need to be on the look-out for each other, which could be as simple as a quick visit to check on a neighbour, who could be a young mum without any family nearby, or an older person living alone.

“This could make a major difference and help tackle loneliness, which is placing an increasing burden on health and social care.”

Notes

The ONS report, ‘Loneliness - What characteristics and circumstances are associated with feeling lonely?’, is available here .

Original article link: https://www.local.gov.uk/about/news/lga-responds-ons-report-loneliness

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