There are 8.2 billion human beings on this planet. Yet, 1.25 billion people often feel more alone than ever before
 
Loneliness is often defined as being without any company, as being by yourself. But it’s more than that. Loneliness is the subjective feeling of being isolated and disconnected from those around you. The World Health Organisation has deemed loneliness to be a public health concern, comparing the effects of loneliness to those of smoking and obesity (World Health Organisation). Social isolation, which refers to lack of contact with other people in the society or community, is reported to be experienced by 1 in 4 older individuals. Consequences of social isolation and loneliness include not only psychological and emotional domains but even social and economic domains, such as in the form of decreased employability. The effects of loneliness have been recorded to be profound, evidenced by the increased initiatives and awareness by governments worldwide.

Statistics and Trends

In the United Kingdom, around 49.6% of individuals reported feeling some level of loneliness in 2022. Chronic loneliness was reported by 7.1% of people in Great Britain; the percentage increased by 1.1% compared to the statistic reported in 2020 (Campaign to End Loneliness, 2023). Data collected pre-pandemic in the United States showed that social isolation increased by 24 hours per month, while a decrease was seen in companionship and social engagement with friends, family and others (Murthy, 2023). As per a study conducted in 2021, 43% of Indians living in urban areas experienced some form of loneliness, with 48 to 65% of individuals over 45 years of age reporting feelings of loneliness (Koranne, 2025). The reason for this could be attributed to the lack of community initiatives and cohesiveness in urban areas as well as probable burnout due to the hustle culture which is now glamorised. In addition to this age group, loneliness also impacts young adults and elderly individuals, who are often considered to be vulnerable populations. In terms of young adults, the presence and increasing use of online platforms is replacing in-person conversations and activities. In accordance with research, loneliness can increase the risk of physical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, dementia, and earlier death, as well as the risk of psychological disorders like anxiety and depression (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention).

Initiatives Around the World

Recognising the adverse impact that loneliness can have on several domains of human life, the United Kingdom was among the first to launch a government initiative for the same. They launched the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness and a Loneliness Minister. This initiative has helped several charities and organisations across the UK by providing funding (Barran, 2021). The funds are used by the organisations to host events and provide individuals with the opportunity to socialise in small groups and engage in activities that they enjoy. Further, the government initiative is also partnering with social media platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp to launch a campaign encouraging people to talk about loneliness and to launch a chatbot to help individuals deal with the same. In addition to these, there are several smaller interventions hosted by citizens on recognising the feeling of loneliness they face or see others around them facing. For example, a couple in Glasgow, Jack Glass and Billi Allen-Mandeville, started a weekly walking group that meets to explore a new part of the city on Sundays (Wilson, 2025). The walk is open for anyone and everyone to join, allowing every individual an equal opportunity to join in and socialise, or just to feel a bit less lonely and feel like a part of a community.

Following the UK’s lead, and in response to the surge in suicide rates, Japan employed its first Minister for Loneliness, Tetsushi Sakamoto, in 2021 (Ryall, 2023). The main reason for this initiative was to tackle the rates of social isolation by providing mental health support to the citizens and to promote community programmes boosting engagement. Another country that took inspiration from the UK’s initiative is Australia (Lim, 2023). The Ending Loneliness Together initiative is a national organisation in Australia which is actively working with the government and other national foundations to spread awareness. The aim of the organisation is to employ evidence-based methods and advocacy to reduce the levels of social isolation reported by citizens and the negative effects that consequently follow chronic loneliness. In the Netherlands, after a deceased woman’s body was found only after 10 years of her passing, the local politician developed the ‘One Against Loneliness’ (Eén tegen eenzaamheid) campaign, which was established on the nationwide scale in 2018 (Bates, 2023). The initiative was created especially for the elderly population, where volunteers would offer welfare visits to those above 75, fostering intergenerational bonding. Denmark, acknowledging the levels of loneliness in the young citizens of the country, has established a National Partnership against Loneliness, a strategy spread over 17 years, to address this matter (Hamilton, 2023).

Loneliness is not an individual issue, problem or weakness; it is a structural issue. In order for individuals to live their fullest life, there needs to be a change made on a community and national level. The rates of increasing loneliness and the growth of this epidemic call for a systemic change to be brought to ensure the physical, psychological, and economic flourishing of each person. The solution or the key to this growing issue is not a grand gesture, but maybe it’s just the simple act of showing up – for yourself and for others.

Authors: Muskan Shah, FLAME Alumna  & Prof. Moitrayee Das, Faculty of Psychology, FLAME University.