From retired older people who have lost their network to new mums, empty-nesters to students leaving home for the first time, loneliness is an issue that can affect anyone. What’s more, it can seriously damage both mental and physical health.
We look at how widespread the problem is, how it harms health, and what you can do to feel more connected.
How Common Is Loneliness?
According to the Campaign to end Loneliness1 :
- Nearly 50% of UK adults (about 26 million people) feel lonely at least occasionally
- Approx. 7% (3.8 million people) experience chronic loneliness, meaning they feel lonely ‘often or always.’
A 2022 survey by the Mental Health Foundation2 goes further, and found that:
- 35% said they would never admit to feeling lonely
- 25% of adults feel ashamed about being lonely.
Those feelings of shame or worthlessness stop people talking about it, but it’s important to know that you’re not alone in being lonely. It’s something that nearly everyone has experienced at one point or another in their lives.
What causes loneliness?
There’s lots of complicated reasons behind loneliness, but Health Assured3 points out it often goes alongside a big life change or change in circumstances. That includes things like:
- Bereavement
- Divorce or the end of a relationship
- New parenthood
- Redundancy or a change of job
- Leaving home
- Transitioning to higher education
- Retirement
- Living alone
- Chronic health issues.
According to the UK government’s Tackling Loneliness strategy review4, reported loneliness is higher for people who:
- Are 16-24 years old
- Are female
- Are single or widowed
- Live with a limiting mental health condition
- Are renting
- Have lower neighbourhood belonging
- Have lower local social trust.
What are the symptoms of loneliness?
Loneliness looks different for different people, but there are signs and symptoms to look out for in yourself and others. They include:
- Feeling less confident in yourself
- Feeling disconnected from others
- Feeling tired – especially by social interactions
- Getting nervous or avoiding social events
- Worrying about what people think of you, or obsessing over interactions you’ve had
- Feeling isolated or trapped
- Lacking purpose or focus
- Change daily routines, like stopping cooking for yourself, caring about your appearance or getting up early
- Finding it difficult to get to sleep or stay asleep.
How does loneliness impact health?
Loneliness clearly has a big impact on people’s mental health:
- 60%5 of people experiencing chronic loneliness experience mental distress
- Almost 4 in 10 people6 (39%) said feelings of loneliness have led them to experience low mood (or sadness)
- 1 in 4 people (25%) said feelings of loneliness made them feel worried or anxious
- 1 in 8 (12%) UK adults have had suicidal thoughts and feelings because of feeling lonely.
But loneliness also has an impact on physical health, too.
Studies have shown it can weaken the immune system, making it harder to fight off illnesses, and can lead to increased levels of proteins7 in the blood linked to inflammation, heart disease, diabetes and infections. Research has found that loneliness leads to:
How does loneliness impact work?
Clearly loneliness has a huge impact on people’s personal lives – but it also impacts them at work.
We spend so much of our lives working, that feeling isolated through or by our jobs can exacerbate the problem - and damage both motivation and productivity.
A Government report on employment and loneliness in 202111 found that:
- The cost of loneliness to UK employers is estimated to be £2.5 billion every year
- Costs include those from increased staff turnover, (64%, £1.62 billion), lower wellbeing and productivity (26%, £665 million), the impact of caring responsibilities (9%, £220 million) and ill health and associated sickness absence (1%, £20 million)
- The monetised impact of severe loneliness has been estimated as £9,900 per person per year, due to the impact on wellbeing, health and productivity.
That makes loneliness an issue for employers as well as individuals - and many workplaces have wellbeing strategies in place to help workers feel more connected to their organisation, team and culture.
Getting into work rather than staying at home, picking up the phone or setting up in-person meetings rather than emailing, and organising or attending workplace social activities are all great places to start if you’re feeling lonely. But there’s also lots of other things you can do, too…
How to combat loneliness
1. Talk to someone
It sounds really obvious, but getting out and being around and with people is a great way to alleviate loneliness. Even a short chat with a friend, neighbour, or shop assistant can lift your mood.
2. Make plans
Sometimes the daily grind of adult life just gets on top of everyone, and it can be really hard to keep up with friends alongside jobs, housework, family etc. Lots of your friends are probably in exactly the same boat. Be the one that reaches out and suggests a plan to do something fun – whether it’s a trip, or even just a cup of tea in the garden.
3. Join a local group
Look for clubs, classes, or community groups in your area. Your local library or community centre might have a book group or coffee morning, craft sessions or other activities you can get involved with.
4. Volunteer
Helping others is a great way to meet people and feel valued. Pop into your local charity shop to see if they need any help, become a telephone friend with Age UK, search the NCVO website12 for volunteer opportunities that match your skillset, or contact The British Red Cross to find out about their volunteering programmes across the UK.
5. Get active
Physical activity, like walking, dancing or joining a gym can boost your mood and help you meet others. Even a short walk in the park can make a difference to how you feel.
6. Try a new hobby
Learning something new—like a language, craft, or sport—can be fun and help you meet people with similar interests.
7. Spend time with pets
Pets provide companionship and routine. They can also help you connect with other pet owners.
8. Use social media wisely
While social media can connect people, it can also exacerbate feelings of loneliness, particularly when it’s used passively to doom scroll, or focuses on comparison to others. Focus on real connections, and using social media to talk to friends, or follow and interact with community pages and causes you can contribute to in real life.
9. Seek professional help
If our Stress Support/EAP service is part of your Equipsme plan, it’s well worth giving them a ring. Not only can they be someone to talk to and a sounding board for worries, but they can signpost to further support and resources which could help you cope with your feelings of isolation, and be proactive in connecting to others.
Check your Equipsme App or Portal to see if your employer has purchased the Stress Support/EAP for you, or check your intranet or HR to see if you have any other EAP (Employee Assistance Programmes) in place.
Find out more about the Stress Support/EAP Line
There’s also lots of other places to go to for help and support:
NHS – Every Mind Matters
The Samaritans
Mind
Sources:
1 www.campaigntoendloneliness.org
2 www.mentalhealth.org.uk
3 www.healthassured.org
4 www.gov.uk/government/publications
5 www.campaigntoendloneliness.org
6 www.mentalhealth.org.uk
7 www.theguardian.com
8 www.campaigntoendloneliness.org
9 time.com/4299234/heart-attack-loneliness
10 www.nia.nih.gov
11 www.gov.uk/government/publications
12 www.ncvo.org.uk
All our information is desk-based research from credible sources only, including the NHS and medical/disease charities.
Date created: May 2025
