Mark Whitehead 01 March 2017

Charity finds one in eight people do not have close friends

Local government leaders have called for loneliness to be recognised as a major public health issue following a report showing one in eight people have no close friends.

Relate said one in five people are lonely some of the time or all the time - a sharp rise on the previous year.

Increased dependence on social media, a lack of work/life balance and the pressures of bringing up children were among the possible reasons for the problem.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said research showed loneliness could be more harmful than smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

She said: 'We have long been calling for loneliness to be recognised as a major public health concern and we support Relate in drawing attention to this increasingly important issue.

'Loneliness and social isolation have a major impact on people’s health and wellbeing.

'We all need to wake up to this problem, which is placing an increasing burden on health and social care.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

North Northamptonshire Council
£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

South Wales Trunk Road Agent
£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recuriter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer x 2

Hounslow London Borough Council
£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI ChelmsfordFixed Term, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 Per Annum, Full Time EquivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of SEN Assessment & Resolution

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£77136 - £88230 per annum
Shape a fairer future for children with special educational needs.As Head of SEN Assessment and Resolution at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chel England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Linkedin Banner