Mental health, social isolation and loneliness

What is it?

The Health and Inequality Commission was set up by Glasgow City Council in summer 2016 to develop proposals to improve the health of the city. It brought together city Councillors, public health experts, representatives from community groups and citizens with lived experience of poverty and poor health.

The Commission looked at mental health inequalities in Glasgow as an area of growing concern. The Commission's report outlines the impact of loneliness and social isolation, as both a cause and consequence of poverty and mental ill health and highlights the social isolation is higher in our poorer neighbourhoods.

The Commission agreed a number of recommendations to ensure that the Council and other partners recognise and prioritise the importance of tackling loneliness and isolation. The Commission also produced a series of short films to give greater insight into mental health inequalities. The films were created by people with lived experience of mental ill health, social isolation and loneliness. Links to the films are given below and are provided as a resource to help raise awareness of the challenges and possible solutions to improve mental health.

 The Commissions report [145kb] was approved by the City Administration Committee on 12^th October.

A summary version is  available here. [1Mb]

Films about mental health

Without subtitles

Health and Inequalities Report Film

Prof Context 1 - Fiona Moss & Michael Smith
Prof Context 2 - Graham Watt

Positive Practice 1 - Men's Shed
Positive Practice 2 - LGBT Health and Wellbeing
Positive Practice 3 - SAMH

Case Study 1 - Anon
Case Study 2 - Sharon
Case Study 3 - Paul

With subtitles

Health and Inequalities Report Film subtitled

Prof Context 1 - Fiona Moss & Michael Smith subtitled
Prof Context 2 - Graham Watt subtitled

Positive Practice 1 - Men's Shed subtitled
Positive Practice 2 - LGBT Health and Wellbeing subtitled
Positive Practice 3 - SAMH subtitled

Case Study 1 - Anon subtitled
Case Study 2 - Sharon subtitled
Case Study 3 - Paul subtitled

Further support

If you need to talk with someone, then the following organisations are here to help:

Samaritans Freephone 116 123
Breathing Space Freephone 0800 83 85 87

Urgent Help

Emergency If you, or someone you know, need an immediate response call the emergency services on 999.

Confused/Distressed

If you are experiencing confusing or distressing thoughts, or if people around you have expressed concern about your well-being, arrange an appointment with your GP or phone NHS 24 on 111.

If you, or someone you know, are currently being seen by someone from a community mental health team and require urgent attention, please contact the Out of Hours Team using the number you will have been provided with.