Write a commentAn initiative that has been set up to coordinate a response to loneliness and social isolation in Ireland is now represented locally by MLA Justin McNulty.
The taskforce established to tackle the issue of Loneliness in Ireland plans to increase awareness about loneliness and produce a set of recommendations for government, state agencies and all policymakers.
Collaborating with Alone, a charity that supports older people, the Loneliness Taskforce will be chaired by Fianna Fáil Senator Keith Swanick and along with Justin McNulty, other members of the taskforce are Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE; Sabrina McEntee, Co-ordinator at Cavan Youthreach; Dr Roger O’Sullivan, Director of The Institute of Public Health; Sean Gallagher, entrepreneur and runner up in the 2011 Irish Presidential election; Professor Brian Lawlor, Consultant Psychiatrist at St. James’s Hospital and Conolly Norman Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin; Professor John Hillery, President of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland; and Anne Lynott, President of the Institute of Community Health Nursing.
Mr McNulty said “I’m delighted to be involved with the Loneliness Taskforce that is made up of a range of people from the community and voluntary sector, nursing, sport, business, medicine, youth work, psychiatry and non-governmental organisations across Ireland. We recognise that loneliness and social isolation are some of the greatest public health risks and societal challenges facing us today. While much of the focus has been on loneliness in the elderly, it is now apparent that loneliness is now as prevalent in the young as it is in the elderly, it just manifests itself differently.
“Loneliness does not discriminate between young and old, rich and poor, or urban and rural and that is why more needs to be done to tackle the scourge of loneliness and social isolation. It is very sad to think that it might be seen as inevitable for people to go through loneliness in their lives or as they get older. That is why the work of this Taskforce is so important.
“We are determined to bring awareness to ordinary people, non-medical people, from all walks of life who can do better and look out for our neighbours and try to be more aware of the whole epidemic of loneliness, because that’s what it is, it is an epidemic.”
All interest groups and other organisations are being asked to submit short-term, medium-term and long-term proposals that could make a significant change to the issue of loneliness in Ireland. The taskforce is currently collecting submissions and recommendations online and is due to publish a report in the coming months.
The Taskforce takes inspiration from the late Labour politician Jo Cox murdered in June 2016. Mrs. Cox began a campaign called Happy to Chat and from there, a loneliness commission was set up.
Anyone interested in making a submission can do so via the Loneliness Taskforce’s webpage www.lonelinesstaskforce.com
