‘Loneliness’ is Theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

By Make a Difference
27 April 2022

Are you ready for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, which will run from Monday 9th to Sunday 15 May? In 2022 the week will explore the experience of loneliness, its effect on our mental health and how we can all play a part in reducing loneliness in our communities.

It’s a great opportunity to start conversations that can engage the hard to reach. The theme also reinforces growing interest in the role that employers can play, not only supporting the mental health and wellbeing of colleagues, but also in creating a positive impact across wider communities.

Each year, the Mental Health Foundation sets the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week. The Foundation has been tracking loneliness levels in the UK during the pandemic and found the experience has been much higher with devastating impact. Loneliness has been an important factor contributing to higher levels of distress, resulting from people’s sense of isolation and reduced ability to connect with others. Further polling also found that loneliness was one of the leading issues that the public felt needed to be addressed.

The week will raise awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental wellbeing and the practical steps we can take to address it. Reducing loneliness is a major step towards a mentally healthy society.

Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said:

“Loneliness is affecting more and more of us in the UK and has had a huge impact on our physical and mental health during the pandemic. That is why we have chosen it as our theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2022. Our connection to other people and our community is fundamental to protecting our mental health so we must find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness. We can all play a part in this. The week is also an invaluable opportunity for people to talk about all aspects of mental health, with a focus on providing help and advice.”

You can find resources provided by the Mental Health Foundation here.

With Mark Rowland’s wise reminder in mind that the week presents an invaluable opportunity for people to talk about all aspects of mental health, here are some other resources you might be interested in: