“They look forward to our telephone calls” - how telephone psychological support can help reduce depression and loneliness

Depression and loneliness can be prevented with psychological care support delivered via telephone calls, according to a new research study.

Participants in the study, called Behavioural Activation in Social Isolation (BASIL+), reported that their levels of emotional loneliness fell by 21% over a three-month period, and the benefits remained after the phone calls had ceased, suggesting an enduring impact.

The results of the study, published in the Lancet Healthy Longevity, showed rapid and enduring improvements in mental health and quality of life when older people received weekly phone calls over eight weekly sessions with trained BASIL+ Support Workers.

BASIL+ started within months of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and was the largest clinical trial ever undertaken to target and measure loneliness for people.

Michelle Morgan, a BASIL+ support worker based in Llan Healthcare in Cardiff, worked with her team including Gaynor Ambler, Georgia Munro and Shirley Slater.

She said the study was initially aimed at how people with multiple health conditions dealt with social isolation during the COVID-19 lockdowns, but it continued after the lockdown when restrictions were lifted.

Michelle said: “The study involved supporting adults with low mood and loneliness using behavioural activation to encourage them to maintain social connections and remain active. 

“I was allocated a total of four participants whom I had to telephone on a regular basis and complete various questionnaire about their lifestyle, mental health and hospital visits. 

“I encouraged these participants to make positive changes to their regular day-to-day activities and get them more active and motivated to work towards the goals set by themselves.

“It was a positive study from the participants’ point of view and I know that they looked forward to our telephone conversations.”

People who were aged over 65 with multiple long-term conditions were invited to take part in the trial. They had been asked to shield during the pandemic and were at a high risk of loneliness and depression.  

The study, led by a team based at the University of York and Hull York Medical School and at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, found levels of depression reduced significantly and the benefits were greater than those seen for anti-depressants.