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

Older lady alone looking out of window

The impact of Loneliness on Healthcare Use in older people: evidence from a nationally representative cohort

Journal Articles

7 Jun, 2020 - Concerns around loneliness leading to increased healthcare use persist in spite of a mixed evidence base and lack of adjustment for key…

Loneliness Ageing

Older man on video call

Video calls for reducing social isolation and loneliness in older people: a rapid review

Journal Articles

22 May, 2020 - The current COVID‐19 pandemic has been identified as a possible trigger for increases in loneliness and social isolation among older people due to the restrictions on movement that many countries…

COVID-19 Loneliness Ageing

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

Man alone in park

A unified approach to loneliness

Journal Articles

11 Jan, 2020 - Globally, there are growing concerns about rates and consequences of loneliness, especially among older adults. In response, 2018 saw…

Older lady alone on bench

Consensus statement: loneliness in older adults, the 21st century social determinant of health?

Journal Articles

1 Jan, 2020 - The purpose of this consensus statement is to determine the state of the field of loneliness among older people, highlighting key…

Loneliness Ageing