A Community Conversation on Social Isolation and Loneliness
By Contributor
Social isolation and loneliness have social, health and emotional impacts–and it’s time to start talking about it. The Kalein Centre and the Nelson Library invite the community to take part in a conversation online on June 18 at 7 p.m.
As part of this discussion, Ursula Heller will share her photos of local residents experiencing social isolation and loneliness. This online event continues conversations started by the Kalein Centre’s CLICK! project.
CLICK represents both the click a camera makes and what happens when people meet and have a connection. Over the last year LVR students and elders shared experiences and took photos related to the topics of social isolation and loneliness.
“They really couldn’t believe how similar their experiences of social isolation were” reflects Kalein Centre Board member Mike Stolte.
“Talking about it in this way helped everyone develop better strategies for coping, created beautiful intergenerational connections and allowed participants to feel they were not alone.”
Social isolation and loneliness is a timely topic in the age of COVID-19, but not a new one.
“It’s really important for us to come together as a community, have an informed conversation on it, and try to reduce isolation’s social and health impacts, which are shown to be more harmful than smoking or obesity,” says Stolte.
The CLICK! Project was made possible by funding through the Government of Canada and Columbia Basin Trust. To register for this Zoom event, call the Nelson Public Library at 250-352-6333 to register or email hgoldik@nelson.ca
