their loneliness. For example, some participants terms of reduced support for urgent issues in noted that they did not know their neighbours, their own lives (e.g. mental and physical health and did know how to or feel encouraged to make issues, or mobility problems.) Not having support connections locally. This differed from stigma, for these made life, and connecting with others, discussed above, because it was located at the that much more difficult. community level, not wider society. For people “But there again, it’s all down to money. with health and mobility issues, facing physical The way the country is at the moment access difficulties as well as societal ignorance things get cut. And I just think this [support to their circumstances prevented them from for people experiencing loneliness] will be connecting with their communities more regularly. one thing to get cuts.” Young new mums struggled to connect with (Mobility, Male, Oldham, 55-74) older mums, worrying that they had nothing in common or that they would be judged for their circumstances. Transitioning to chronic loneliness “I took him to a play group once and all the Over time, some participants developed habits mums were a lot older than me and quite that kept them disconnected, and what could cliquey so I have never been back.” have been a transient phase of loneliness (Young new mum, London, 18-24) transitioned to a chronic state. It was very difficult for people to pinpoint when what they were experiencing became engrained in the way Political landscape – There was some evidence they spoke, acted and thought – how loneliness in our discussions with people experiencing transitioned to defining who they were. mental and physical health issues that they were very worried about being categorised as Two things characterised chronically lonely ‘benefit scroungers’. They noted that people participants: receiving benefits seem to be stigmatised in 1. Loneliness became a habit, their default way modern political discourse and the media; it of behaving. So, not only were participants may be that longstanding political discourse trying to overcome what underpinned their 13 around ‘deservingness’ has contributed to this . loneliness experience, they were now also People experiencing health issues who were, trying to overcome their default outlook on for example, not working thus worried that they life and ways of acting. would be judged by others – which made trying to make connections more intimidating. 2. Self-worth was impacted. In addition to tackling the life events that may have “I believe that because programmes on TV triggered loneliness and the daily challenges have not truly portrayed the real disabled and of connecting, chronically lonely participants because the government have taken such were also faced with deep seated questions drastic action on those on beneits it leads about their value to others. people to believe we are all lazy not disabled.” (Health, Female, Wales, 35-54) I feel very isolated and alone. Financial hardships – Closely linked to the I would rather stay in my house political landscape but raised as a separate and important driver of loneliness was financial than to go out at all. Miserable, hardships. Our participants noted that they felt sad and very depressed. the pressure of public spending decisions in (Mobility, Male, Oldham, 75+) 13 See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20431729 What causes loneliness, and how can it become chronic? 28