The Ripple Effect: Reaching out to create community

By Dr Anne Marie Creaven

I’m not lonely right now, but I want to help

Although occasional loneliness is common and often resolves by itself over time, experiencing quite intense loneliness, or loneliness for a very extended period, can be quite distressing. These forms of loneliness can also have knock-on effects on our mental health and the mental health of people in our communities. For example, Laya’s research indicates that self-esteem, symptoms of depression, and symptoms of anxiety, are common problems for people experiencing loneliness. Even if you don’t experience loneliness yourself, there are lots of ways to tackle loneliness for people you are close to, and for your community.

Why are community efforts important?

Loneliness is often discussed as an individual issue. But, while loneliness is something people experience for themselves, it comes about because of a perception that our wider social worlds are lacking in some way. This might be in terms of the quality or emotional closeness of our relationships (e.g., the relationships we have don’t feel meaningful enough for us), or in terms of the quantity or social aspect of our lives (e.g., we feel we don’t meet up often enough with our friends or family, or don’t have enough different groups we have to socialise with). When we feel lonely, we often recognise that more meaningful relationships or more frequent contact with our connections would help, but it can be difficult to express that we feel lonely, and difficult to motivate ourselves to reconnect. This is especially the case for people feeling very severe loneliness, or who aren’t sure where to begin to connect with others. This is why community efforts to mitigate loneliness can be important – they take some of the pressure off people who are experiencing loneliness.

How do we tackle loneliness in our communities?

So where can we begin? Research commissioned by Laya indicates that people are most likely to report feeling lonely when they are alone, and when they are at home. The bigger picture stresses like the housing crisis can exacerbate loneliness, as many people are not living with people they are choosing to live with, or feel their social lives are stunted by their living arrangements. Based on this research, identifying and promoting low-cost opportunities to socialise or simply to congregate with others might help alleviate loneliness in your community, especially for those with complicated living arrangements.

How can we create these opportunities for connection?

Creating opportunities to connect can be as simple as sharing information about opportunities and facilities already in our local communities. Laya’s research found that 87% of survey respondents followed at least one sport in Ireland, so sharing information about local opportunities for sport or physical activity might help bring people to these social settings where loneliness is less likely. There are so many ways to participate – from playing, to coaching, to volunteering, cheering from the sidelines, or simply the sense of togetherness that can come from being in the same physical space at the same time. If you are a leader in your community, spreading the word about the clubs and venues in your area might make the difference to someone you haven’t met yet.

Is sport really for everyone?

It can be easy when we’re watching rugby and other sports on TV or hearing the latest results on the radio to think of sport as something for people at a very elite level. This is why it is so important to be a leader and to reach out. For those of us living with a physical disability, not all sports will feel accessible, though this is changing. If you’re already involved in sport in your community, considering how you can make your sport more inclusive could make a big difference. If you know someone with a physical disability, asking them what adaptations can help them to participate, could be the beginning of an important conversation. Laya’s research indicates that nearly 9 in 10 of us regard living with a disability as contributing factor for loneliness, emphasizing how important it is to make community accessible for everyone.

Similarly, for those of us living with a significant mental health issue, loneliness is more complicated, and not as straightforward as joining our local sports club or getting out to watch a match. If you have some trusted friends or family in your life, arranging to watch a match together at home can be a small but meaningful way to keep connected. And  although playing sport might feel a bit beyond us now, knowing that we have options, whenever we feel ready for them, can help.

Importantly, for everyone, the venues and spaces where people gather for sport and recreation are invaluable in giving us that space from home, and a place to gather, or to simply be, where other people are present too. These venues and spaces can give us a physical environment where we are a little less likely to feel lonely. When we want to make a difference, promoting sport and promoting our spaces, is something tangible we can do that can help. We can all play our part to make our communities more connected, and shoulder a little of the load for people experiencing loneliness. And, a community teaming up against loneliness makes for a better community for our own lonely seasons, too.