A Life Less Lonely

Nick Duerden is a writer and freelance journalist. He is the author of two novels and a memoir on fatherhood and has appeared on BBC Radio 4 and 5 and Sky News. He has written widely on the arts, travel and health. He lives in London with his wife and two daughters. He is the author of Get Well Soon (Bloomsbury).

'The practical advice in this book is gold dust not only for lonely people, but for those who long to help them.' - Joanna LumleyLoneliness is an epidemic on the rise. It has long been documented that older people suffer from social isolation, but teenagers do too, likewise new parents, those with disability or illness, and anybody going through a significant life change.As more people work full-time, and we interact via social media rather than face-to-face, we need to stop and ask ourselves: what can we do to ensure all our futures are more connected and socially satisfying?This book will help to share stories of loneliness to increase our empathy and understanding of it, and to look for possible solutions. Using the research the Jo Cox Commission undertook following the MP's senseless death in 2016, it offers a wealth of practical advice: how to spot the symptoms in yourself and in others; how to ease them; how to seek help and, ultimately, how to understand this most fundamental of human emotions. Its aim is simple: to provide us all with the tools we need to lead kinder, more connected lives.

Research shows that being isolated and lonely increases your likelihood of illness and dementia. Isolation and loneliness is costing our society millions of pounds

Introduction1 The silent scourge2 How to become compassionate3 Contacting the elderly4 The problem with men5 The mental health benefits of tea and scones6 A room with a view7 The baby blues8 Technical support9 University challenged10 Blind man's bluff11 The refugee crisis12 The circle of life13 How to disconnectReferencesAcknowledgementsAbout the authorIndex