Telephone Befriending

As there is an increase in reported experiences of loneliness and social isolation, befriending interventions can have an important role to play in addressing and alleviating such experiences. More specifically, telephone befriending is a

low risk, and low-tech intervention that has shown to be effective in reducing loneliness and social isolation. Relationships are vital in everybody’s life, as they can bring enrichment, meaning and value. Despite the high connectiveness in today’s society, loneliness and social isolation are high among both the young and the elderly. Some reported reasons for loneliness include physical, financial and mental health related issues.

Both loneliness and social isolation have been associated with poorer physical and mental health. Loneliness can lead to depression, cognitive deterioration and diseases such as Alzheimer’s, obesity, stroke and hypertension.

Befriending in any capacity is a great way to reduce  loneliness and social isolation by increasing the sense of belonging and, by extension, the overall wellbeing of individuals. Here at Bentleys we have implemented  our telephone based befriending to reach isolated individuals in and around Dundee. Amongst our other  active and available befriending services, telephone-based befriending is low cost, low risk and low technology which appears to be overall effective. Telephone based befriending is also useful for reaching people that live remotely. As such, it can be perceived to offer a viable remote support service that can generate improved wellbeing, which is essential for building strong communities.