Loneliness is a rising public health issue with detrimental impacts on an individual’s health and wellbeing. In the UK, it is estimated that 1.4 million older adults experience loneliness often.

Researchers from the Department of Global Health & Social Medicine conducted a series of public engagement workshops with people from minoritised communities across the UK, to develop multicultural perspective.

In this seminar, we present their findings across group themes, focusing on the importance of family, spirituality and language to manage feelings of loneliness in later life.

This event is in-person and will take place at NVCO, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL.

Research aims

• Our aim was to facilitate discussion on the conceptualisation of loneliness in later life across South Asian, Chinese and Somali communities through the ‘Connect and Cope’ workshops.
• Between June and July 2023, we engaged 46 people over the age of 65 across the UK in London (n=10), Manchester (n=16) and Sheffield (n=20).
• All participants reported an increase in knowledge of loneliness and emotion management at the end of the workshop.