Turning summer solitude into social success

The summer spell is known as a time for relaxing and recharging, but for many it can be one of the loneliest periods.

For children, regular school activities they rely on end for the holiday break. For young adults, sports and activity clubs are paused until September while work socials dry up as colleagues jet off on holiday.

The same applies to the older generation whose weekly entertainment and stimulation – whether it is visiting the local church services or playing Bingo with other community members – can be increasingly difficult to maintain, with periods of loneliness potentially leading to short-term cognitive decline.

A study released last week by the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry revealed that people who feel that their life lacks purpose are more likely to experience cognitive decline sooner than others and are at a higher risk of illnesses such as dementia as they age.

The paper found that well-being noticeably declined two to six years before mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to dementia, was diagnosed.

In the report, Dr Rich Oakley at the Alzheimer’s Society said: “There is substantial research evidence that looking after your mental well-being and staying socially active throughout your life can help to reduce your risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and dementia later on in life.”

Currently, more than nine million adults in the UK are often or always lonely, with one-third of the British population claiming they feel lonely often or some of the time. Additionally, the Belonging Forum polled 10,000 Brits from across demographics and found young women aged 18 to 24, the renting community, and those living with disabilities were least likely to report a strong support network.

Clinical psychologist Linda Blair said there is often an abundance of social opportunities in one’s early years, but once those easy opportunities are gone, people can struggle to forge new friendships and relationships.  

Steps such as joining a group or class based on something you love or volunteering for something you care about can be a great first step for finding friendships. But in an era of social media, where judgement from peers is constant, combined with the toll on one’s finances caused by the cost-of-living crisis, the prospect of finding new friends can become challenging and overwhelming.

But now, companies are taking on a more productive role in supporting staff and delivering corporate social responsibility. Support sites such as Oliva are being used to provide one-to-one therapy sessions. This can help empower employees to take control of their well-being by providing access to a supportive network of professionals to guide them through careers and introduce them to like-minded peers.

Similarly, certain companies are now also working with online influencers to help provide employees with access to new community groups.  The Fell Fitness Community is one such example. Created by Dave Fell, it has amassed over 200,000 followers across Facebook and Instagram. The community page runs across Yorkshire, the Northeast and London, offering the chance for people of all ages to join regular games of football, netball, rounders, badminton, days out and monthly sports days in their local area. In addition, the online portal allows members to share insight on healthy eating, well-being, and the opportunity to meet new friends in their respective areas. Companies such as Buxton Water in addition to smaller SME businesses are working with Dave and other community influencers to provide employees to a wealth of new and growing community groups.

It is incumbent on companies to elevate high spirits during the summer and work to lift and support those feeling lonely.