Community Conference for Loneliness 2024

Following a community building workshop held in Douglas attended by local residents and community protagonists, it was established that there was an overwhelming concern with regards to isolation effecting the surrounding area. Following up from this evenings a consultation between the evening’s organisers and members of Douglas council took place at City hall and was decided to have a conference in Douglas for Loneliness. After it was observed by assisting community members from the islands Baha’i community that World Health Organisation has announced that there was now a post Covid pandemic in isolation and that the medical effects of loneliness can be equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Guest speaker Dr Semira Holland from the WHO came over to present a message towards unified action in tackling loneliness for our island.

SlidesDownload

Various agencies from around the island gave their own talks that included stakeholders in loneliness such as:

  • Community volunteers
  • Various Faith based groups
  • Warm & cosy groups
  • Disability support charities
  • Addiction recovery groups
  • Suicide prevention support groups
  • Medical professionals
  • Age support groups
  • Manx Wellbeing Partnerships
  • Manx care officials & elected members from government and Council
  • Men in Sheds
  • Companionship support groups
  • Animal welfare groups
  • Mental health and wellbeing charities.

All guests had their own opportunity to contribute their own valuable input by stating their own individual solutions for social interventions.