Isolation is becoming an increasing problem particularly among older people
Campaigners are to host a loneliness summit in Glasgow a bid to end isolation among the city’s population.
The Campaign to End Loneliness and Glasgow City Council are hosting the event in the city's Royal Concert Hall to challenge the problem.
Over two-thirds of people in Glasgow have experienced loneliness says organisers while nine in 10 older Glaswegians believe that it is hard for older people to admit they are lonely because they don’t want to be a burden.
The summit takes place just weeks after the Scottish government released its strategy on tackling loneliness and isolation.
Jackie Kay, Poet Laureate of Scotland, will open the event while speakers include Brian Sloan, chief executive of Age Scotland and Tressa Burke of Glasgow Disability Alliance
Anne Callaghan, the Campaign to End Loneliness’ campaign manager for Scotland, said: “We are delighted to launch the Campaign to End Loneliness in Glasgow.
“Loneliness can have a potentially devastating impact on our daily lives, health and wellbeing. Feelings of loneliness are linked with poor health, including high blood pressure, weakened immune system, and an increased risk of developing dementia.
“We have been working with various agencies and local groups to tackle this. The role of the Summit is to bring those voices together to launch the Campaign to End Loneliness in Glasgow, and determine the best way forward for us to achieve this together.”
There are 1.2 million chronically lonely older people in the UK with and are more likely to suffer from dementia, heart disease and depression.
