Social bubbles

As was reported in the media allow households to be able to meet a SMALL selected bubble of family or friends. I read and know of so many people on their own who are struggling massively with their mental health and who would benefit enormously from face to face contact with a selected bubble of family/friends. The longer the lock down goes on it’s current format, we will have the additional risk, alongside the pandemic, of a flood of suicides. There are also many thousands of grandparents, young and old, unable to see their grandkids. Reading that some are potentially dying due to lack of treatment because of covid-19 makes my heart break. All they want is to be able to see them and give them a hug.

Why the contribution is important

It could potentially save lives which are being mentally destroyed by Corona virus!

by Scotsgirl1 on May 06, 2020 at 08:26AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.7
Based on: 23 votes

Comments

  • Posted by FeeO May 06, 2020 at 09:11

    Lack of social interaction will cause long term mental health trauma. By allowing bubbles it helps our mental health and I believe will ensure that we have the strength to comply to the other lock down measures correctly. Without this “light at the end of the tunnel” I fear people will do it anyway but in a less co trolled manner

  • Posted by AnnetteK May 06, 2020 at 09:21

    I just can't see how this Social Bubble idea would work. There are 4 of us in our household. There are 21 additional people in our extended family that we would normally be in contact with (parents, siblings and their partners and children). My father is on the Shielding list, so that would exclude my parents from our Bubble, leaving 19 family members to choose from. Each household in our extended family list (6 households) would have other family members they would want to include in their Bubble, who are not on our list. So how can we all possibly agree on the same 10 people, and only the same 10 people. It just won't work.

  • Posted by Milliecat50 May 06, 2020 at 09:29

    I agree. Isolation is detrimental to mental health - sharing a household bubble could be the right way to keep virus at bay and increase people’s well being.,

  • Posted by scottc May 06, 2020 at 09:30

    While I have much sympathy, indeed would like to see our own kids, this would be impossible to police in any way - you'd just have to say OK, you can have a gathering of up to, say 10, people and you can travel as far as you like to do so.

  • Posted by staceyw12 May 06, 2020 at 11:13

    I think most people are following the rules already and therefore there needs to be some leeway in the near future (maybe after 2 - 3 weeks) that will allow us to see immediate family and/or partners. I live alone and I am a keyworker sticking to the rules. Most people I know are sticking to the rules so we need to be trusted to stay within the restricted measures when the time is right. We need light at the end of the tunnel. My partner and I live apart, he is in Fife and I am in Edinburgh, so it is particularly hard but we are determined to do the right thing. We just want to know that we will be able to see each other soon (ish)

  • Posted by jo37scot May 06, 2020 at 12:04

    I think there should remain a restriction on numbers gathering ie maximum 2-4 at a time to reduce drunken parties etc but I think allowing you to have a bubble of 2-10 people who you could meet, even if it was only one at a time would be a great boost to people's mental health. You could make this outside, with social distancing, or allow inside. I think it is hard on a lot of single people, especially as families seem to be allowed to do what they want.

  • Posted by April1886 May 06, 2020 at 12:41

    I agree with staceyw12, many partners live separately over distances. Often alone. It would be beneficial for people's mental health and wellbeing to allow partners to see each other. Perhaps choose an address to stay at if possible.

  • Posted by Keekah May 06, 2020 at 21:14

    I think for the mental wellbeing of many a ‘bubble’ would be appreciated and a step in the right direction. Many people live alone and have had no social interaction with close family since the start of lockdown. Our daughter who suffers from anxiety, is not working at the moment, lives a 5 min walk from us. She lives in a flat and has no outdoor space. Why can’t she social distance from us in our garden? We worry about her mental well-being, for which she has in the past required treatment. A simple bit of social distance interaction could save the NHS in the future. My other suggestion for a bubble is when someone loses a family member whether because of coronavirus or another illness, why not allow them to have a small bubble. Living alone with bereavement is hard enough never mind during this time with this horrid virus. Allow close family members to comfort each other. It must be horrendous to lose someone close and not be allowed visits. Also allow immediate family in to a hospice to see dying relatives if the hospice is virus free. Simple things, can make a huge difference and social distancing could still be observed. This could save the NHS in the long run and potentially save lives of people with poor mental well-being.
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