Loneliness hits shielding Scots hardest during Covid-19 pandemic

Charities have raised concern as new survey data showed mental wellbeing and loneliness is worst in those required to shield during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Picture: John DevlinPicture: John Devlin
Picture: John Devlin

Results from the Scottish Health Survey released on Tuesday showed 27 per cent of those in the shielding category said they felt lonely, compared to 18 per cent of those not shielding.

One in ten people on the shielding list said they felt lonely “often” or “all the time”, compared to four per cent of others.

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The annual survey was conducted by telephone in August and September 2020, gathering responses from 1,920 people over the age of 16 across Scotland.

It also found that those shielding reported significantly lower mental wellbeing than those who were not.

Men were less likely to have social contact with women, with 24 per cent saying they contacted friends, neighbours or relatives just “once or twice a week”, compared to 12 per cent of women.

Some nine per cent of men said they had no-one, or only one person, to turn to in a crisis, compared to five per cent of men.

Joanne McLean, research director at the Scottish Centre for Social Research, which carried out the survey for the Scottish Government, said: “This research shows how important contact with loved ones and neighbours – by phone, online, or in-person – can be for our wellbeing at this time.

She added: “We know from existing Public Health Scotland data that people on the shielding list are also more likely to live in more deprived areas, linked to poorer quality housing and less access to green spaces for exercise.

“These factors may all have exacerbated the challenges of shielding during the pandemic.”

Around 180,000 people considered to be at the highest risk from Covid-19 were told to shield at the beginning of the pandemic. This was paused on July 31, shortly before the survey was carried out.

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Charities have called for more support for vulnerable Scots in the wake of the findings.

British Red Cross public affairs and policy manager for Scotland Kenneth Watt said: “This report shows the effect loneliness is having on the most vulnerable people in Scotland and how important it is that support to tackle loneliness is targeted towards those who have been hit hardest by the pandemic.

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“Many of the people who have had to shield throughout the coronavirus crisis already faced challenges because of health conditions, disabilities or financial hardship before this pandemic and they are struggling even more now because a lack of quality connections leaves them feeling lonely, cut off and sometimes helpless.

“There is a clear and urgent need to provide help now but loneliness will not go away when this crisis is over and we must also plan for the future and support those who are having the hardest time to reconnect with the people who matter most to them as well as their communities.”

Dr Jane Morris, vice-chair elect of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, said the results did not come as a surprise.

“The poorer mental health of those shielding may partly reflect their underlying health condition. However, the survey hasn’t taken into account that people shielding may have lower access to face-to- face treatments, as well as access to family and friends,” she said.

“The statistics demonstrate the crucial role face-to-face contact plays on our mental health. That is why we’re calling for solid and decisive government action on workforce, infrastructure and funding of mental health services - to deal with the influx of cases in the future.”

The survey also highlighted other health issues, with just a third of respondents in the healthy weight range, while 28 percent reported obesity and 35 per cent excess weight, as calculated in the report based on adjusted BMI measures.

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Almost 40 per cent of respondents – and 43 per cent of women – said they had gained weight since lockdown began in March.

Lorraine Tulloch of Obesity Action Scotland said the results ring “alam bells”.

"It gives a clear indication of what we thought might be happening, namely that a significant number of adults report putting on weight during the pandemic control measures,” she said.

"Unhealthy food is being consumed on a daily basis and food insecurity issues persist. This provides the case that we need a healthier food environment in Scotland now more than ever before.’

It comes after data released by the National Records of Scotland on Monday showed a decrease in healthy life expectancy in Scotland.

From 2016/18 to 2017/19, women’s healthy life expectancy dropped from 62.2 years to 61.9, and is now the lowest since records began in 2009/11.

Healthy life expectancy for men stands at 61.9 years – a decrease of almost two and a half months from the previous year.

New figures on health inequalities released by the Scottish Government on Tuesday revealed the healthy life expectancy gap between the most and least deprived areas in Scotland has widened to its highest point in more than a decade.

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A man in the most deprived areas of Scotland could expect to live to 47 years old in good health between 2017 and 2019, compared to 73 for the most affluent.

The most affluent women could expect to live in good health up to the age of 71.6, compared to 49.5 for their less well-off counterparts.

Chief Executive of Age Scotland Brian Sloan called the figures “really disappointing”.

"The gap between people in the most and least deprived areas is staggeringly high and shows that much more needs to be done to reduce poverty and increase people’s quality of life,” he said.

“Preventing ill health in the first instance clearly needs more of a focus and investment especially as these figures don't take into account the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns which will almost certainly exacerbate this issue in the next few years."

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