I rang Samaritans in lockdown – there’s no shame in asking for help, says Scarlett Moffatt
WITH each Instagram post wracking up tens of thousands of likes, it's hard to believe celebrities could feel lonely.
But TV presenter Scarlett Moffatt has opened up about her struggles with social media, and how it has impacted her mental health.
To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, the 31-year-old has urged people who are finding things difficult, to talk about their issues.
"Sometimes it can feel like there is a negative stigma around admitting that you’re lonely, but it’s something that most people will have experienced at one point in their life.
"There is no shame in feeling alone, and it’s okay to talk about it", she said.
From the outside looking in, it might seem like someone like Scarlett would have no reason to feel alone, the Samaritans ambassador said.
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The former Queen of the Jungle has over 2.1 million followers on Instagram alone.
She also has 5.2 million likes on TikTok, with over 760,000 loyal fans on the platform.
But even with that level of notoriety, Scarlett says that during the coronavirus pandemic, she had to reach out for help.
“In the world of social media, it’s not always clear to see when people are feeling sad or lonely.
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"I remember feeling guilt when I felt lonely – because to many people I have no reason to feel alone – but loneliness affects us all. The pandemic was particularly tough for a lot of people.
"I rang Samaritans for support and would urge anyone else struggling to do so too. Talking to someone who didn’t know me, or judge me, really helped when I wanted to talk about how I was feeling”.
Scarlett's honesty comes as Samaritans have seen a 22 per cent increase in emotional support calls mentioning loneliness and isolation since the start of the pandemic.
And it's a feeling more prominent in women, with call handlers seeing a 26 per cent increase in females and 15 per cent in men.
Further data shows that people who live in rural areas actually felt less lonely than those in urban settings.
The UK-wide survey revealed that 34 per cent of those living in the London and Cardiff areas agreed that they felt more isolated or lonely during the pandemic due to where they live.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- HUMEN
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,, 116 123
That's close to three times more than those in Norwich (13 per cent) who were least likely to report such feelings.
Despite the majority of younger people having social media platforms with hundreds of connections, there is also a generational divide when it comes to loneliness.
Over 42 per cent of those between 18-34 said they had felt lonelier since the pandemic, compared to 14 per cent of those over the age of 55.
As part of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week, the Samaritans has issued new tips for anyone who might be struggling to cope and who feels isolated.
The experts said that most of us will feel lonely at some point in your lives, and that you don't have to be alone to feel this way.
But there are things you can do to help.
1. Talk about how you feel
If you're feeling lonely, then talking about it can help and opening up can help you feel empowered.
The experts said you can try sharing with people you trust such as your GP, your friends and family.
2. Be kind
Opening up to others can be daunting and you should take it at your own pace.
The experts said: "Take care of yourself and spend time doing things that you love, whether that’s dancing to your favourite song, watching a comforting film or getting outdoors – give yourself a break."
3. Connect with others
One way of combatting loneliness is to connect with people in your local community.
See what's on in your area and look for clubs to join or volunteer opportunities.
Being around others that have the same interests as you can help.
4. Connect online
If you're unable to connect in person then there are lots of resources online that help bring people together.
You could join an online class or a virtual meet up about something you are interested or passionate about.
5. Connect with nature
Exploring the great outdoors has been proven to be a mood booster.
It can help reduce feelings of mental health and can boost physical health so try and visit your local park or even tend to your own plants or flower beds.
6. Don't compare yourself to others
In a world when we have access to everyone's achievements and seemingly perfect lives online, it can be hard to not compare what we have to others.
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The experts said: "Remember, most people are only sharing and posting their best bits.
"It could heighten feelings of loneliness if you’re comparing yourself to someone else’s highlight reel."
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?
Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours