Creating Inclusive, Connected and Caring Neighbourhoods
Authors: Debra Jakubec & Howard Lawrence, Abundant Community Edmonton
Studies examining how meaningful connections and small acts of kindness influence feelings of loneliness, quality of life, and well-being are front and center for Abundant Community Edmonton (ACE) in our municipality.
A global study, which was conducted by a team of leading loneliness experts found that knowing as few as six neighbours reduces the likelihood of feeling lonely and is linked to lowering depression and social anxiety.
Loneliness is a growing issue across Edmonton, one that has been intensified due to COVID-19. According to a recent Angus Reid study, 46% of Canadians surveyed said not seeing friends and family has been the hardest part, followed by living alone (15%). The percentage of Canadians who suffer from both loneliness and social isolation has increased from 23 percent of the population to 33 percent in 2020.
The global report also addressed the impact of performing small acts of kindness for neighbours, finding that these small acts of kindness reduced the likelihood of feeling lonely among study participants.
These helpful (COVID-19 safe) actions included:
Emotional support (23%), such as encouraging or listening to a neighbour;
Tangible support (17%) shoveling a neighbours walk or running errands;
Companionship support (23%), such as regularly calling a neighbour or chatting over a fence (while following health guidelines);
Belonging support (12%), such as contributing to a neighbourhood effort like a neighbourhood cleanup or social or sharing talents/skills with others.
“I’ve spent my career studying the health effects of loneliness, but one of the things that the entire field struggles with is having ways to potentially reduce risk,” says Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, who was part of the international study. “The fact that we were able to find changes—particularly with relatively small, simple steps—is pretty remarkable.”
ACE works with neighbourhoods to connect neighbours by their block and then by interests within the proximity of the neighbourhood. These connections support the research which finds that the smallest actions, such as saying hello to a neighbour, increases a sense of belonging.
Abundant Community Edmonton Website
Contact: abundantcommunity@edmonton.ca