Loneliness: Social isolation and loneliness

Social isolation and loneliness are increasingly being recognised as a priority public health problem and policy issue for older people. During the course of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), the Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing Unit will be addressing social isolation and loneliness as one of the themes that cuts across the four main action areas of the Decade. Are you feeling lonely? Use these 18 strategies to overcome loneliness . Loneliness is a distressing experience that occurs when a person’s social relationships are perceived by that person to be less in quantity, and especially in quality, than desired. Anyone can experience loneliness . However, the way you experience loneliness can be different to somebody else. Some people can be alone and not feel lonely and others can be surrounded by people and feel lonely. “I shouldn’t feel lonely?” Do you relate to this phrase? If so, know that a lot of young people think that too, including us. But what you may not realise is that loneliness is a common feeling in young people. Almost 10% of young people said they were ‘often’ lonely 1 ...