This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (9th – 15th May), an annual awareness campaign organised by the Mental Health Foundation.
This year, the theme is loneliness, aiming to raise awareness of what loneliness means, the impact of loneliness on our mental health, and the practical steps we can take to address it.
The Mental Health Foundation reports that one in four adults feel lonely some or all of the time. It explains that there’s no single cause and there’s no one solution. But the longer we feel lonely, the more we are at risk of mental health problems.
Loneliness is also a common experience amongst LGBTQ+ people, and particularly older people who might not have access to a social ‘scene’, may be isolated from friends and family, or have lost friends or loved ones along the way.
What support is available?
Our new telephone befriending service
Friends of Dorothy and Opening Doors runs a Telefriending Service for LGBTQ+ people aged 50 and over who are feeling isolated and want a friendly chat.
The service works by matching you with a trusted volunteer who will call for a friendly chat once a week. Our aim is to reduce the stress of loneliness and isolation, increase confidence, and provide a supportive chat with someone else who identifies as LGBTQ+ and can relate to you. Your volunteer will also let you know of things going on in the Friends of Dorothy calendar.
To find out more or request a volunteer for yourself, or someone you know, visit: https://outtogether.lgbt/befriending/
Meet-ups and social events
Friends of Dorothy is a charity that champions social inclusion for older LGBTQ+ people, by hosting regular activities and events. We are a welcoming and inclusive group that supports our “friends” to keep well, have fun and stay connected.
Our informal meet-ups and events are designed to allow you to meet new people, make new friends, get out and about and do something enjoyable; all of which can have a positive impact on mental health. Check out our calendar for upcoming get-togethers or email outtogether@friendsofdorothy.org.uk to introduce yourself.
Other organisations and websites
There are lots of helpful resources on the Mental Health Foundation’s website, including this guide on how to cope with loneliness https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/loneliness-help-and-advice
Leeds Mind has lots of useful resources and services such as Inkwell Arts which supports the community in discovering the link between creativity and wellbeing, helping to look after mental health for the longterm. Visit Leedsmind.org.uk to find out more.
National Mind is also launching a campaign to get more people talking about mental health. The campaign includes spoken word poetry, in collaboration between experts by experience and spoken word artists. All the stories end with the tagline “If this speaks to you, then speak to Mind.” If you are interested in spoken word poetry, you can read more about the campaign here.
Mindwell Leeds is also a great resource to explore the support available in the city, visit https://www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk/.