Health and Loneliness Roadshow Hits Dumfries

The profound impact that loneliness can have on people’s health will be highlighted in a roadshow organised by Befriending Networks this month.

 

South of Scotland MSP Joan McAlpine welcomed the Health and Loneliness Roadshow event, taking place at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, on Monday 8^th of June between 12.30pm and 3pm.

 

The Health and Loneliness Roadshows bring together health and social care professionals in a discussion of the impacts of loneliness on health and, by consequence, on health and social care services.

 

This two-hour lunchtime workshop will also allow participants to explore the measures which, working in partnership with the voluntary sector; they can adopt to address it within their professional spheres of influence.

 

Commenting, the SNP MSP said,

 

“It was great to meet the Chief Executive of Befriending Networks, Liz Watson, at a recent event in Parliament where I found out that the Health and Loneliness Roadshow would be making its way to Dumfries.

 

“Loneliness is proven to have detrimental effects on health. Events like this act as an important preventative measure by sharing ideas about how the health of lonely individuals can be maintained and how lonely individuals can get the best access to health and social care, which is why I would encourage interested members of the public and in particular, local health professionals to attend”.

 

Liz Watson, CEO of Befriending Networks said,

 

“From our point of view, we have been arguing for many years that loneliness has both a direct and indirect negative impact on health and that tackling loneliness would not only be a powerful preventative step in terms of individual health outcomes, it would also have a tangible impact on the use of health and social care services.

 

“Recent research into the links between health and loneliness, and the growing awareness of loneliness as a widespread (and increasing) issue in our communities, has allowed us to secure funding to take this learning on the road and out to health and social care professionals in every health board area of Scotland”.

Representatives of local befriending services will showcase their own work on health and loneliness.  There will be a networking half hour at the end of the workshop to enjoy a cup of tea of coffee, get to know more about these services and the potential offered by befriending for enhancing the quality of support available to vulnerable and isolated people within the health board area.

 

If you are interested in attending register your free place here:

http://www.befriending.co.uk/health-loneliness-roadshows.php

 

Flyer for event attached.