Social isolation and loneliness guide
How can we support someone experiencing social isolation or loneliness?
We can support someone at risk of or experiencing social isolation or loneliness by asking the right questions to understand the person's needs and their individual situation. Once we understand this the appropriate support can be identified.
For example, a befriending service may not be suitable for someone who has withdrawn from their social contacts due to financial difficulties. In this situation support to review the person's finances may be more impactful. It's important to match the approach to the personal situation and preferences of the individual.
Strength-based conversations can help to empower people to take control of their needs and make informed decisions about their own health and wellbeing.
Strength-based conversations
Use the 3 A's to help you understand the person's situation.
Ask
What does your network of friendships and relationships look like?
Do you communicate with them via telephone contact, social media or in-person?
Assist
Would these things make a difference to you?
Can I give you some information to help support the opportunities we discussed?
Act
Can you think of anything you are interested in?
Is there a class or group that you have heard of that I could help connect you with?
Would you be open to being connected to new people?
Making every contact count (MECC)
Making every contact count (MECC) is a strength-based approach to behaviour change that uses the millions of day-to-day interactions that organisations and people have with other people to support them in making positive changes to their physical and mental health and wellbeing. MECC focuses on the strengths and abilities of the person.
MECC training provides the tools, skills, and confidence to have a strength-based conversation. It’s not about telling people what they should do or about being an expert.
A MECC interaction takes a matter of minutes and is not intended to add to busy workloads, rather it is structured to fit into and complement existing conversations and contacts.
You can book MECC training on Eventbrite.
It's open to anyone working or volunteering in the voluntary and community sector, council, and health care partners in Buckinghamshire.
We also offer bespoke MECC training to suit your services or client base on request, please forward all queries to [email protected].
By having a strength-based conversation you should have a better understanding of the person’s needs and be able to:
- help them identify their own solutions and develop a plan for themselves
- give the person space to think about and voice out loud their situation and consider their options