IHW staff fundraise for the Carr Gomm "Stomp out loneliness" campaign

Published: 28 June 2018

Global Mental Health's Dr Laura Sharp and Dr Julie Langan Martin run Paisley 10K to raise money for Carr Gomm to help address loneliness

10K run to raise funds for Carr GommIn August 2018, Dr Laura Sharp and Dr Julie Langan Martin from the MSc in Global Mental Health team ran the Paisley 10K to raise money for Carr Gomm, a person-centred organisation that supports people to lead their lives safely and do the things they want to do, and works to combat loneliness.

Britain is the loneliness capital of Europe with many factors contributing to this, including social isolation, which can be further complicated by physical and mental ill-health, disability and poverty. Life transitions such as divorce, bereavement and unemployment can be key triggers for loneliness. Loneliness is an issue that affects us all. Over one million older people always or often feel lonely, as well as 68% of people aged 18-65 and an incredible 80% of under 18s and with a staggering eight in ten people feeling negatively judged for feeling lonely, and 92% of people finding it difficult to tell others they are lonely, the cycle can become difficult to escape.

Loneliness and social isolation are significant issues that affect us all. Carr Gomm is working hard to reduce social isolation and its devastating impact on mental and physical wellbeing, and IHW is delighted that Laura and Julie are supporting such an important campaign.


First published: 28 June 2018