Torfaen AM calls for ‘real action’ to tackle loneliness and isolation to reduce number of suicides

Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle has called on the Welsh Government to deliver ‘real action’ in tackling loneliness and isolation in a bid to reduce the number of suicides in Wales.

The AM has backed calls by Samaritans Cymru for initiatives that are taken to tackle loneliness to be moved into ‘a much more serious space.’

In a debate on the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's report into loneliness and isolation the AM said tackling loneliness and isolation saved lives.

Lynne, who is a member of the Health Committee, said: ‘When Samaritans Cymru gave evidence to the Committee they said that they wanted to move the actions that are taken to tackle loneliness into a much more serious space. I believe that is crucial because tackling loneliness and isolation saves lives.’

She highlighted the message in Samaritans Cyrmru new report Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Suicidal Behaviour in Wales that the work of community groups should be seen as a form of prevention and early intervention in tackling loneliness and isolation.

‘Being connected to others saves lives,’ said Lynne.

‘We are all becoming familiar with the public health impact of loneliness and isolation, such as the often quoted statistic that it can be as damaging for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.’

But loneliness and isolation were significant risk factors for suicide, too, said Lynne who welcomed the Welsh Government’s commitment to tackling loneliness as a national priority but called for that to be translated into real action.

‘Some policies in recent years have been going in a different direction,’ she said.

The Communities First programme often criticised for fostering softer initiatives rather than hard-edged employment ones, said Lynne, had delivered projects that were essential in delivering the connectedness so vital in tackling isolation.

‘In September, for example, I attended the Gofal Gwent service user forum and I met service users there who told me that they wouldn’t have been able to leave the house without the support of their local Men’s Shed group – previously funded by Communities First.’

Another example included a walking project. ‘Such groups are not just about physical health,’ said Lynne. ‘For many of the walkers in my constituency Lets Walk has been a vital way to tackle loneliness, often after the loss of a spouse.

‘On Friday a lady came to my surgery who was really worried that the pressures on adult education funding had led to charges being introduced for people with disabilities who are on benefits to attend her local art class.

‘Again for some of those people the art class is a lifeline. We all understand the massive financial pressure on local authorities but we need to view these decision on an invest to save basis. The costs of social isolation and indeed suicide are much higher – we have to match our rhetoric on prevention with action.’

The AM was also keen to emphasise the perception that loneliness and isolation was only a problem for older people. There was increasing evidence, she said, that social media may be causing loneliness and depression in teenagers.

As chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, Lynne said a strong message coming through our inquiry into the emotional and mental health of children and young people in Wales is that social media is impacting on their mental health.

‘This matters – not just because we want our young people to have good mental health but because young people are a high risk group for suicide.

‘It is a national scandal that four school children die by suicide every week in the UK. Papyrus the prevention of young suicide charity, as part of their campaign to reduce the number of suicides among school children – their Save the class of 2018 campaign have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the impact negative social media contact can have on young people.

‘They have produced a very hard hitting film called Bedtime Stories that encourages all us to be aware of the impact of social media. I would encourage everyone to watch it.’