Study To Make Hull The Best Place In The World For Loneliness Research And Interventions

Our Research Team at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust are working in collaboration with Imperial College London and Hull City Council to lead the way in the fight to tackle loneliness and isolation. We are conducting research in Hull to highlight how loneliness can be affected by where you live and providing insight into our local area.

Loneliness and isolation can affect people of all ages and from different walks of life. This issue has been particularly highlighted as a result of the national lockdowns and remote working since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, around 13% of adults in Hull experienced loneliness. This figure was higher than the average for East Yorkshire, York and Leeds, indicating that Hull faces a particular challenge with loneliness. Contributing factors are social isolation, life changes, mental health and age. If left unchecked loneliness can severely reduce the lived experience and quality of life and will lead people into suffering in silence.

The INTERACT study aims to ‘measure’ loneliness in Hull and surrounding areas by inviting members of the community to complete a brief anonymised online survey which only takes a few minutes and is easy to complete. Anyone who is 16 years or older living within a ‘HU’ postcode area can take part in this survey (which can be accessed using a smartphone, tablet or personal computer).

Saddaf Shaheen, Research Operations Manager at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust said:

 “We believe this study is a vital look into the way we can better understand not only where loneliness is most prevalent, but also how environmental factors are impacting our communities. We are delighted to be working with our partners at Imperial College London and Hull City Council to learn more about loneliness and its impact on a wider scale.”

The INTERACT study is also being conducted in London. One of the key innovations of the study is to map out the geographic location of those who complete the anonymous survey without knowing any other confidential information about study participants. This allows researchers to generate a ‘heat map’ showing where loneliness is concentrated and is most likely to occur. The information collected may help with the development of future services and treatments and will hopefully bring in funding to our region to tackle the problems of loneliness and social isolation.

Dr Austen El-Osta, Principal Investigator of the Measuring Loneliness in the UK (INTERACT) Study said:

"Loneliness is a silent epidemic that profoundly impacts mental and physical health yet remains poorly understood at scale. The INTERACT study is the largest global study of its kind, pioneering a data-driven approach to map and measure loneliness at a granular level. Our collaboration with Hull is crucial as it aims to engage with a community that is actively seeking solutions. By working together, we can generate powerful insights that inform local interventions, shape policy and ultimately improve lives. This partnership is a model for how research and real-world impact must go hand in hand."

We are looking for around 10% of Hull’s population to take part. This will be a huge undertaking and fantastic opportunity for our local area to be part of something that can really make a difference to so many people’s lives.

Follow this link to take part in the survey, it only takes a few minutes.