ABSTRACT
Most of our participants were able to forge some form of connection or life-line that kept them going and helped maintain some at least minimal sense of the integrity of their life projects. Though they lived alone many of our participants were in contact with at least one relative who proved important in a variety of ways, both material and emotional. Some people derived a source of satisfaction from looking after pets: Bill has his dog, William his parrot and cats, and Barry a budgie and pet mice. Having responsibility for pets, Barry said, helped keep him from suicide. Sometimes to their surprise, after a succession of bad experiences with Joe Public, participants were able to develop a supportive connection with a sympathetic neighbour. So, for example, Barry had got to know the neighbours across the road and used to go over every morning for half-an-hour for a chat, and he was even invited to spend Christmas Day with them. Ian described how the couple next door had been very good to him and sold him a suite for next to nothing and helped him out in numerous small ways.
