Loneliness and mental health

Together we can tackle loneliness

Loneliness is affecting more and more of us in the UK and has had a huge impact on our physical and mental health during the pandemic.

Our connection to other people and our community is fundamental to protecting our mental health and we need to find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness. We can all play a part in this. We want to raise awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental well-being and the practical steps we can take to address it.

Reducing loneliness is a major step towards a mentally healthy society.

One in four adults feel lonely some or all of the time. There’s no single cause and there’s no one solution. After all, we’re all different! But, the longer we feel lonely, the more we are at risk of mental health problems. Some people are also at higher risk of feeling lonely than others.

Graphic of people holding protest signs that read 'Let's tackle loneliness'
Graphic of a book with the title 'loneliness research'

Our Loneliness Report

Our report explores everything to do with mental health and loneliness.

We look at why it matters, who experiences loneliness and what it feels like. The report also investigates how well people understand loneliness and suggests ways that we can respond as individuals and across society.

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Our Policy Briefing

In recent years, the governments around the UK have rightly recognised tackling loneliness as a priority for policy action.

The Westminster Government was the first to appoint a Minister for Loneliness and to publish a strategy on tackling loneliness, and Scotland and Wales have also published loneliness strategies. It is essential that we do not lose this momentum.

Resources and advice

Explore our loneliness guides, packs and advice to tackle loneliness in your community.

How to cope with loneliness and improve your mental health

We worked with people who have experienced loneliness to develop some help and advice that you might find useful for yourself or to support other people who are feeling lonely.

View our loneliness help and advice

Loneliness school pack

This pack explores what loneliness is, how it can affect our mental health and the different ways we can connect with ourselves, others and the world around us to feel less lonely.

View Loneliness School Pack

A student guide to loneliness

This guide is aimed at students aged 16+. It explores loneliness and mental health and provides tips for students together with ideas of how to get involved and raise awareness in communities, at school, college or university.

View Student Guide to Loneliness

A young parent guide to loneliness

The Mental Health Foundation and The Lullaby Trust have developed this guide to support young parents who may be feeling lonely.

View Young Parent Guide

Loneliness - a guide for teachers and education staff

Education Support in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation has produced a guide to support teachers and education staff with the experience of loneliness.

View Teachers and Education Staff Guide

Loneliness - the later life toolkit

Loneliness for people in later life can be a real challenge on a daily basis. Many older people may become lonely due to the loss of a loved one or spouse, relocation to new settings or it may be due to having developed an illness or a disability.

View Loneliness Later Life Toolkit

Loneliness - Let's Talk: Mental Health podcast

In this episode of our podcast, we talk about loneliness and what it means to feel lonely, how it affects our mental health, who experiences it and what we can do to cope with it.

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Listen now

Loneliness in Young People campaign

The #UnlockLoneliness campaign aims to raise awareness of loneliness in young people, provide tips to help you cope and actions that the government can take to tackle loneliness.

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View campaign

Blog: Exploring loneliness in children

Following the release of a report from the ONS, this blog explores the impact loneliness has on children and highlights areas we should tackle as a result.

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Read blog

Stories about loneliness

We can all experience loneliness. We are proud to bring together a collection of inspirational and moving stories of people's experiences of loneliness.

Photo of Ashleigh
Story
Ashleigh's story: coping with physical conditions and connecting with LGBTQIA+ groups
Ashleigh's story: coping with physical conditions and connecting with LGBTQIA+ groups
Photo of Carol
Story
Carol's story: there should be no shame in how we feel
Carol's story: there should be no shame in how we feel
Photo of Dean
Story
Dean's story: my mental health took a hit during the pandemic as my feelings of loneliness grew
Dean's story: my mental health took a hit during the pandemic as my feelings of loneliness grew
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Story
Fox's story: being disabled and the feeling of isolation, together with being queer and trans
Fox's story: being disabled and the feeling of isolation, together with being queer and trans
Photo of Gabi
Story
Gabi's story: my struggle with speaking up about my depression and loneliness
Gabi's story: my struggle with speaking up about my depression and loneliness
Photo of Iona
Story
Iona's story: the challenges of being autistic and feelings of loneliness
Iona's story: the challenges of being autistic and feelings of loneliness
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Story
Larysa's story: my loneliness after arriving in the UK after the conflict in Eastern Ukraine
Larysa's story: my loneliness after arriving in the UK after the conflict in Eastern Ukraine
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Story
Libby's story: overcoming my feelings of loneliness and finding my strength
Libby's story: overcoming my feelings of loneliness and finding my strength
Photo of Rachel
Story
Rachel's story: the loneliness of living as a single mum
Rachel's story: the loneliness of living as a single mum
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Story
Rhoda's story: my feelings of loneliness and the effects of culture change after arriving in the UK
Rhoda's story: my feelings of loneliness and the effects of culture change after arriving in the UK
Photo of Rhyana
Story
Rhyana's story: my feelings of loneliness worsened while I was studying, working and being a full-time mum
Rhyana's story: my feelings of loneliness worsened while I was studying, working and being a full-time mum
Photo of Talia
Story
Talia's story: my experiences of loneliness and anxiety as a young mum
Talia's story: my experiences of loneliness and anxiety as a young mum

Why loneliness was the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

Read the blog by our CEO Mark Rowland
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