Scots pensioner, 81, with no family near home takes anti-depressants to combat loneliness

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A Scots pensioner with no family near her home is now taking antidepressants to combat loneliness.

Emma Chrichton began medicating earlier this year after she said the pandemic left her “lacking in confidence."

The 81-year-old, lives in Balerno, but said she doesn’t “have family in Edinburgh at all.” Her husband died seven years ago and her three children are scattered across the UK in Pitlochry, East Kilbride, and Hertfordshire.

The lonely OAP shared that Sundays are some of the hardest days to be alone since they used to be spent with family and told Edinburgh Live : “Very often on weekends I'm on my own because [my children] are doing things with their own families.”

“I don't have family in Edinburgh at all. I had the family all in Edinburgh when we moved from Dumfries 38 years ago. My husband died eight years ago in January. Since then, my family have all moved away from Edinburgh as well. Sunday was usually a family day.”

Emma is healthy and loves to go on walks around her village but said that when the weather is too poor to go out, she can feel more isolated and expllained: “In winter evenings, when the curtains are pulled at night, I feel quite alone. It’s like shutting out the outside world and sitting with no one to talk to.”

Emma began taking anti-depressants this year after feeling particularly down following the pandemic. She said: “We weren’t seeing people and I couldn’t go and mix with people. It just left me feeling lacking in confidence for many things. Driving was one of them. Roads were so quiet at that time. When restrictions were lifted, traffic seemed 10 times as heavy. Since starting the medication, Emma reported feeling happier.

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Emma also now attends a Sunday tea social once per month through a charity called Re-Engage, which combats loneliness and isolation in older people and has helped her make new friends. Volunteers help drive attendees to a tea party at another volunteer’s home, where everyone socialises on a day that was previously dedicated to family time.

Between starting anti-depressants and joining Re-Engage, Emma reported that her happiness has been greatly improved. Emma has only been to three Re-Engage outings so far but says it has been “lovely” to have something to look forward to on Sundays.

She said: “It’s been lovely to have a monthly outing. Going to these groups has made quite a difference to me.

“I’m not so outgoing anymore. I suffer from an essential tremor which can be quite embarrassing. I'm always scared I’m going to drop or spill something, but I’ve never felt embarrassed at any of the [Re-Engage] afternoons. I really have enjoyed going to them. It's a lovely outing which I look forward to."

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