Brief summary of episode: 

The topic today is social isolation and loneliness and you may have heard this well known quote about the impact on our health.

 “research by Prof Julianne Holt-Lundstat about the impact of social connection on health outcomes indicates that a lack of social connection is comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day”

 We may be living longer lives than our parents, but social isolation and loneliness shortens our healthspan, the number of healthy years of our lives.

In this episode we’ll talk about the risk that loneliness poses to our health and the ways that we can address this and ensure we build a safe and supportive community.

I’m joined by Shazney Spence, CEO & Founder of EQuanimity Lifestyle & Success Coaching and Dr Deborah Morgan (known as Deb), academic researcher in gerontology and social isolation and loneliness at the University of Swansea.

Topic #1 Difference between social isolation and loneliness 

Topic #2 Pathways to Social isolation and Ioneliness and identifying loneliness & triggers 

Topic #3 Impact on mental health 

Topic #4 Alleviating loneliness: strategies to build confidence, self-esteem, self-perception, value & trust

Topic #5 Connection and the power of vulnerability. Learnings from NASA's CONNECT strategy for social isolation.

 Summary Tips from Deb and Shazney

a) you can recover from loneliness – you need to talk to someone

b) think about your social connections and who you would connect to in an emergency

c)loneliness is a normal emotion

List of resources, suggested materials, and social media: 
 

A Life Less Lonely, Deborah Morgan https://youtu.be/KowlgUIBVdE

Research on loneliness | Social Care Wales

Dr Deborah Morgan’s website - Dr Deborah Morgan | Loneliness Researcher (wordpress.com)

Twitter Dr Deborah Morgan (@lonelyDeborah) / Twitter

Shazney Spence, CEO & Founder of EQuanimity Lifestyle & Success Coaching www.shazneyspence.co.uk

Shazney’s Instagram link shazneyspence_soulcoach

Is Social Disconnection Comparable to Smoking? Prof Julianne Holt-Lundstat https://youtu.be/dMbRWNiauNE