Loneliness - How it can affect the unemployed

Blog by one of our contributors, Jenny Yerworth on 'Loneliness - How it can affect the unemployed' 

I was struck by an article in the paper on Monday about a prominent broadcaster about loneliness.

This can affect all people in society whatever their situation is. There are many reasons as I have mentioned before as to why people are not working, illness, redundancy, looking after ageing parents, or maybe older people may feel they are being sidelined for a younger candidate, who may bring in new ideas.

All these factors can create loneliness. The article I was referring to was that of how Esther Rantzen was finding how lonely she was. This is after all the things she has done for charity and also setting up a dating agency, for those who were in the same position as herself.

People who are unemployed feel this to. They don't have people to talk to about how they are feeling, coping, or feeling rejected by not getting that particular job.

Loneliness is hard to deal with at anytime. When people have lost the camaraderie of the office workplace, there is that sense of loss in society as they try to adjust to a new way of life and to fill in the time.

This time of year is particularly hard. There are numerous office parties and other social gatherings, this then makes not being part of the workforce harder and isolation can set in.

Acceptance of loneliness can be hard. More often than not it is not of our own doing.

For some help comes in being able to volunteer and offering skills, possibly a new dimension to that particular organisation.

Loneliness for anyone is difficult whether it is through loss or unemployment, but as hard as it is, sometimes it becomes easier when circumstances are accepted.

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