We know that life amid the coronavirus pandemic could have a ‘devastating impact’ on the nation’s mental health, leaving us anxious about leaving the house, overwhelmingly stressed by crashing job markets and the economy, and isolated thanks to lockdown measures.
Now a new study examines who has been hit the hardest by feelings of loneliness and poor mental health in lockdown – and it turns out that it’s single men who are struggling alone.
New research from eharmony and Relate hasd found that four in ten single people have felt lonely during lockdown, with men more likely than women to say they’re struggling to be alone (45% versus 35%).
The survey of 2,000 UK adults also found that men reported a slightly higher prevalence of mental health struggles during isolation.
The ways we hope to tackle these feelings of loneliness differ between genders.
Men seem keen to stick a plaster on mental health issues by finding someone to date ‘as soon as possible’ post-lockdown, with a fifth saying they feel like they need to rush back into dating to tackle feeling lonely versus only 8% of women.
Eharmony relationship expert Rachael Lloyd urges men and all singletons to exercise caution before rushing into a new relationship as lockdown lifts.
‘Typically, men are less open with their feelings, and less likely to lean on friends and family for emotional support,’ says Rachael.
‘But, in quite a few cases, they crave romantic intimacy even more than women, as evidenced by our new report with Relate.
‘However, for the one in five men now eager to pursue new relationships, I’d think carefully about the type of person you wish to attract.
‘If you’re looking for a happy, long-lasting relationship, you ideally need to find someone who shares your core values and has a high degree of compatibility. In parallel, make sure you reconnect with family and friends so that when you do find the right person, you bring more balance to the relationship.’
It’s worth noting that being coupled up doesn’t magically fix mental health issues – you can still feel lonely and miserable while you’re in a relationship, so it’s important not to think of dating as an easy remedy for feeling down.
One silver lining of isolation is that it has given some singles time to reflect – with over a quarter (29%) realising that they’re actually happier on their own.
Need support? Contact the Samaritans
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/07/08/single-men-hit-hardest-loneliness-mental-health-issues-lockdown-12960020/
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