A British science communication worker recently expressed her isolation during the various episodes of confinement in connection with the current Covid-19 pandemic. According to the person concerned, loneliness has now become a greater concern than obesity and smoking. However, the solution to this problem would require the adoption of certain social measures.
The different periods of confinement do they have an impact on health? In November 2020, a researcher from the University of Westminster (United Kingdom) explained in a study that a sedentary lifestyle influences memory. By staying constantly in our home, we would use our hippocampus less, this part of the brain playing a very important role in memory and space travel. In a June 29, 2021 article, BBC News reported on the testimony of Alice Gray, 29, working in science communication in Cardiff, Wales. She mentioned long periods of isolation during the various confinements, having notably forced her to celebrate her 20th birthday alone.
Alice Gray is certain that loneliness is now a public health issue more important than obesity or smoking. She recalls that most of the time, isolation is associated with the elderly. Nevertheless, people of all ages have to face it, including more and more young people. Scientist thinks most people underestimate the impact of isolation on the brain , as well as on health. Since people who suffer from loneliness are twice as likely to develop mental disorders, access to care would be beneficial. For the person concerned, this care can only be positive in terms of mental and physical health at the level of individuals and society.
It should be noted that in Wales, general practitioners who so wish now have the possibility of directing their patients towards rather special care. This is so-called "social" care – and therefore non-clinical – involving the intervention of a liaison officer. This is none other than a social doctor whose mission is to develop various activities and other services. For example, it could be discussion groups, dance classes or gardening clubs.
The initiative comes from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), having called on all medical practices to collaborate with their own social doctor. The goal is better workload management general practitioners, and more specifically to free up their time to devote to patients whose case would be more urgent. Furthermore, the RCGP believes that in the long term, loneliness and social isolation can be as harmful as chronic conditions.
BBC News also relayed the testimony of a certain Nick, a patient who had already used this social care. The latter indicated that the experience had allowed him to come out of his shell, and thus overcome a mental health crisis. Finally, the concept of social order is now a priority for the Welsh Government for the next five years. The country's Prime Minister Mark Drakeford has included it in his political platform and supports the Mind Cymr pilot project, the objective of which is to study the effects of these orders on mental health.
