Mental Health Week 2022 – Loneliness

• Posted onMay 6, 2022

WSP Solicitors are supporting Mental Health Week 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a real test of our mental well-being. Some have been able to take the opportunity to improve their overall well-being, others struggled. So this week, we are taking action to address the impact that loneliness can have on our mental well-being and the laws around mental health.

Loneliness and isolation can affect people of any age but is especially common in older people. You might feel alone even when surrounded by other people. This can be especially true for older people with mental health conditions like anxiety or depression, which can make it harder for them to reach out to friends and family. If you believe you need immediate help please call 999 or if you need help for your mental health but it’s not an emergency you can get help from the NHS 111 online or you can call 111

What steps you can take to tackle loneliness.

Make a change to your daily routine. Creating new opportunities for yourself, such as joining a club or putting yourself out there in social situations, can help you create a more positive outlook on life.

When to seek help.

It’s important to remember regardless of how little you feel the situation is, it is always okay to ask for help. This is the first step to addressing the issue and getting the help you need. 

Knowing when you should seek help can be difficult. Especially if you are not sure what type of mental health problem you are suffering from. If you’re experiencing any of the following, you may need to consider getting help.

• worrying more than usual
• finding it hard to enjoy your life
• having thoughts and feelings that are difficult to cope with, which have an impact on your day-to-day life
• interested to find more support or treatment.

 You will find lots of options out there for support, although you might find some are more suitable or available to you. You could try talking to a friend or family member about how you are feeling, or you can go to your local GP. Alternity you can have a look at the NHS mental health services page.

The Law on mental health.

At work, your employers have a duty of care and should do the most they can to support their employee’s, health and well-being.

Due to the Equality Act 2010, mental health issues can now be contemplated, as a disability, ensuring that all the following apply.

• ‘it has a ‘substantial adverse effect’ on the life of an employee (for example, they regularly cannot focus on a task, or it takes them longer to do)
• it lasts at least 12 months or is expected to
• it affects your ability to do their normal day-to-day activities (for example, interacting with people, following instructions, or keeping to set working times).’

These are still considered mental health issues even if they are better at times than others or not symptoms all the time. Employers must not discriminate against you for your disability and they must ensure to make adjustments where they can. 

For more information about when mental health becomes a disability click here.

If you require legal assistance with a personal, family, or business issue that is causing your mental health to be at risk, you can contact us here and one of our specialists will get back to you.