Have A Chat – and help tackle loneliness
During lockdown, more of us have been affected by loneliness than ever before.1,2 Take the time to check-in with those around you. You never know the difference it could make.
#HaveAChat
For many people across the UK, lockdown may have been their first experience of isolation and loneliness. But even before lockdown, for millions of people, loneliness was an everyday reality.
Our new survey revealed that over one third of people in the UK and Ireland are worried about feeling lonely in future lockdowns.3 It’s now more important than ever to take the time to check-in with those around you.
That’s why we’ve joined forces with biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb to create the #HaveAChat campaign.
Please share the video on social media and help us spread the word about the power of having a chat.
It might sound like nothing, but those small moments of connection matter, and can make a big difference to someone who may be feeling lonely.
Getting started
Talking to people you don’t know can be a bit awkward. It can also be a bit intimidating. We get that, but it shouldn’t be that way. Research shows that even people who are reserved or shy find interacting with strangers has a positive impact on their mood.4
It might be a bit out of your comfort zone at first, but after a while it will feel like the most natural thing in the world. Start with a simple hello if you walk past someone on your street.
If you know your neighbour lives alone, maybe offer help collecting groceries or ask if they need anything. Offering help can be a really great way to get to know someone.
Go at your own pace and start small to build up your confidence. Don’t worry about connecting with someone straight away. These things take time. Small talk is a great way to open up, and right now it feels like there’s plenty to talk about! Try and ask open questions and keep it light and fun to begin with.
Not everyone you start a conversation with is going to talk back. And that’s fine. Everyone’s different and we have to respect that.
Making those connections may be more difficult due to COVID-19. Please follow all social distancing guidelines and keep the recommended distance from people.
If connecting over the garden fence isn’t an option, think about how you can keep in touch on the phone or using WhatsApp.
Lockdown and Covid-19
During lockdown in March 2020, more people experienced loneliness than ever before.1,2
In a survey carried out during the peak of lockdown in Great Britain, over 30% reported feeling lonely in the last seven days, and 5% reported feeling “often” or “always” lonely.1
The Have A Chat survey commissioned by Bristol Myers Squibb in partnership with the Campaign to End Loneliness and carried out by Ipsos MORI, highlights loneliness as a serious issue during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK & Ireland3. The survey, conducted in October found that:
- Over a third of people in the survey (37%) agreed that they were worried about feeling lonely as a result of possible future lockdowns.
However, the survey also found that the Spring lockdown had enhanced the nation’s sense of community, and showed that staying in touch is vital to combating loneliness during lockdown(s):3
- Almost half of all people asked (48%) agreed that staying in touch with people during lockdown helped them overcome any feelings of loneliness they might have had
- Nearly a third (31%) of people asked agreed that they felt more like they were part of their community during the lockdown than out of lockdown
- More than half (59%) of people asked agreed that they felt that staying connected to people had become more important to them, since the lockdown restrictions came into place
- As a result of the lockdown restrictions, nearly a third (30%) of people asked agreed that they had made new connections with people in their local community
Now more than ever, it’s important to remember those who will still be impacted by loneliness, and for us to continue to share moments to grow and build new connections, starting with those on our doorstep.
We know that making connections with those that really need them can be a challenge, so we’ve made two guides we hope will help:
Five ways to check-in with those around you.
About the Have a Chat campaign
The Have a Chat campaign is a joint initiative launched by the Campaign to End Loneliness and Bristol Myers Squibb to address loneliness as a major public health issue in the UK and Ireland. We’re excited to partner with Bristol Myers Squibb, who share our passion for changing community and society for the better. We hope to raise awareness of the powerful impact that sharing moments and making connections can have to tackle loneliness and inspire people to discover the power of human connection for themselves.
The video was choreographed by former Strictly Come Dancing star Arlene Phillips, who is passionate about the power of connection and its impact on people:
“Lockdown and social distancing can make the world feel like a very lonely place. There have been times when I’ve felt quite cut off and isolated, and I know I’m far from being the only one. My 92-year-old mother in law is usually full of life and loves a good chat. But she had that part of her life suddenly taken away as a result of having to shield. Without her family or friends able to visit, or friendly interactions during trips to the shops, she felt truly alone. Now more than ever, a friendly smile, a chat over the garden fence or a quick call can be a bright spot in a long day and a way to make sure that, even when we have to stay apart, we don’t have to be alone.”
Take the time to make a connection. You never know the difference it could make.
#HaveAChat
This campaign has been co-created by Bristol Myers Squibb and the Campaign to End Loneliness and is funded by Bristol Myers Squibb.
NOUK2001000-02; November 2020
References:
- Office for National Statistics. Coronavirus and loneliness, Great Britain: 3 April to 3 May 2020. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/bulletins/coronavirusandlonelinessgreatbritain/3aprilto3may2020 Last accessed: October 2020.
- Central Statistics Office. Social Impact of COVID-19 Survey April 2020. Available from: https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-sic19/socialimpactofcovid-19surveyapril2020/introductionandsummaryofresults/ Last accessed: October 2020.
- Have A Chat survey, commissioned by Bristol Myers Squibb in partnership with the Campaign to End Loneliness, carried out by IPSOS Mori in October 2020. Data on file.
- BBC News. The surprising benefits of talking to strangers. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-48459940. Last accessed October 2020.