Encouragement for the lonely

By Joan Janzen

Although many people deal with loneliness and isolation, there is hope on the horizon. The Better Together initiative is joining with Carmen Ledding from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMA) Rosetown who will be speaking at Caleb in Kindersley in late August.

Everyone is welcome to listen to her presentation entitled “Coping with Isolation & Loneliness”, which will take place on August 29th at 2:30 p.m. The class will be offered free of charge.

Carmen Ledding from CMHA Rosetown will be speaking at Caleb Village later in August. The topic addressed will be “Coping with Isolation & Loneliness”, and everyone is welcome to attend.

The presentation will help differentiate between loneliness, isolation and solitude and will illustrate how one’s perspective can change how they feel within society. Not everyone who lives alone is lonely, while someone who lives in a group housing facility may feel desperately lonely.

Carmen will address the physical symptoms evident in people who deal with loneliness. She will also emphasize how the strength of our relationships sustain people, especially as they age. Strategies to manage loneliness will be shared and those will present will be able to have their questions answered.

Marge Bailey from the Better Together group, explained why this presentation is so needed right now. “Better Together is helping to promote this as we see the urgent need to reach out to those who are alone or isolating themselves,” she explained. “We believe this workshop will provide tools to those who care.”

Those caring individuals could be family members, friends or caregivers who can utilize those tools to assist the people they are concerned about.