Study to map 'silent epidemic' of loneliness

Researchers are carrying out a study to help tackle loneliness and isolation in Hull.

A team from Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust is working with the city council and Imperial College London on the project, called Interact.

It aims to measure loneliness by asking the public to fill in an anonymous survey online.

Dr Austen El-Osta, from the project, said: "Loneliness is a silent epidemic that profoundly impacts mental and physical health yet remains poorly understood at scale."

Organisers said the study was the largest of its kind and would use a data-driven approach to map and measure loneliness.

Results of the survey are expected to be used to generate a heat map to highlight areas where loneliness is concentrated and is most likely to occur.

Data could then be used to help develop strategies to tackle the problem.

The team said research had shown that 13% of adults in Hull had reported feeling lonely, higher than the average for Yorkshire.

Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust said it hoped at least 10% of the adults in the city would take part in the survey.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.