TY - JOUR T1 - The importance of addressing loneliness: lessons from a pandemic JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 218 LP - 219 DO - 10.3399/bjgp21X715781 VL - 71 IS - 706 AU - Niha Mariam Hussain Y1 - 2021/05/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/71/706/218.abstract N2 - Despite being a core theme in the curriculum of most medical schools, the concept of addressing a person’s loneliness as a part of their holistic care is still poorly understood, even if it is sometimes informally implemented in management plans. Pandemics such as the COVID-19 outbreak exemplify the importance of combatting isolation; with social restrictions having been in place since March 2020, loneliness is a growing problem in the UK.For those who do not consciously work to maintain social interactions by means such as video calling or social media, self-isolation further prevents them in engaging with normal day-to-day life. A Chinese study investigated the relationship between time spent isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic and its relationship to physical and psychological health. Most participants spent 20–24 hours per day at home; 53.8% of responders rated the psychological impact of COVID-19 as moderate or severe, with 16.5% … ER -