Loneliness

Loneliness

Loneliness describes how someone feels when they lack meaningful social or emotional connections. It is recognised as a public health issue that impacts both at an individual and societal level.

Why is loneliness a public health issue?

Loneliness can have significant negative impacts on the physical and mental health of individuals, as well as wider society. Associated with poor health, the effect of loneliness on mortality is comparable to other well-established risk factors, such as, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity (WHO).

Loneliness can affect individuals of all ages, particularly older adults, and is associated with a range of negative health outcomes, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline.

A public health approach to loneliness addresses social and structural factors that increase the risk of loneliness, such as, poverty, inequalities, housing. It facilitates healthy social choices, making it easier to connect with others and increases opportunities for building trust and connections.

Take 5: Steps to managing your mental health

Loneliness is a very personal experience. It is important to understand the causes and triggers for your loneliness.

Here are some steps that may help:

Connect with others – spend time building and developing your connections, reach out.
Be active –walk, cycle, garden –find something you enjoy and that works for you.
Take notice – take notice of how you are feeling and your environment – when you feel lonely -listen and take action.
Keep learning – try something new: learn a language, learn to paint, learn to dance.
Give – do something nice for others e.g. volunteer – it may help you and may help others more.

Key Facts: Loneliness

Levels of loneliness increased during the Covid-19 pandemic

Ireland: The number of people who felt lonely all or most of the time doubled between April and November 2020 (during the pandemic), from 6.8% to 13.7% (CSO)

Northern Ireland: 1 in every 20 adults report feeling chronic loneliness. (NISRA 2021)

Support & Information

If you’re struggling with loneliness, the following resources may direct you to relevant supports and information.

Ireland: Health Service Executive

Northern Ireland: Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland (COPNI)

Loneliness

Recent work on loneliness

The Covid-19 pandemic challenged our perception of loneliness and social isolation and highlighted the need for public health interventions for people of all ages.

Our recent work in this area included a series of webinars and a recent British Medical Journal editorial highlighting the need for a public health approach to address social isolation and loneliness. Such an approach would tackle the socioeconomic factors that influence the risk of loneliness, including poverty, education, transport, inequalities, and housing.

Latest Loneliness Resources

Loneliness

Why we need a public health approach to tackle loneliness – BMJ editorial

Why we need a public health approach to tackle loneliness – BMJ editorial

Journal Articles News

10 Feb, 2022 - An editorial published in the British Medical Journal today has highlighted the need for governments to recognise the personal, social, and economic costs of loneliness and the need to adopt a…

Loneliness

Blog: Loneliness a key public health issue for society

18 May, 2021 - Professor Roger O’Sullivan, Director of Ageing Research & Development at IPH, talks about loneliness as a key public health issue.“Public health and social measures introduced during the COVID-…

Webinar: Covid-19 and rethinking loneliness

Webinar: Covid-19 and rethinking loneliness

12 Feb, 2021 - Register now for the Institute of Public Health’s webinar focused on the impact of Covid-19 on loneliness in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The webinar will take place on Thursday, February 25th…

COVID-19 Loneliness Public Health

The Lancet article: Will the pandemic reframe loneliness and social isolation?

The Lancet article: Will the pandemic reframe loneliness and social isolation?

Journal Articles News

15 Jan, 2021 - The Institute of Public Health, in partnership with Ulster University and Trinity College, have published an article in The Lancet Healthy Longevity focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and reframing…

COVID-19 Loneliness

Digital divide

Blog for #EPHW20: Covid-19 and the digital divide

12 May, 2020 - It is European Public Health Week and today’s focus is on technology becoming part of our health systems. As we spend more time online during the Covid-19 pandemic, Prof Roger O’Sullivan from the…

COVID-19 Loneliness