Mental Health

Loneliness

27 May 2026 3 min read

Loneliness is something almost everyone experiences at some point in their lives. It can affect anyone, at any age, whether they live alone or with others, and whether they have a busy social life or very little contact with people. It’s not about how many people are around us, but whether we feel truly connected to them.

For many people, feelings of loneliness pass with time. But when loneliness becomes long term, it can take a real toll on both our mental and physical health, affecting our mood, our sleep and even our risk of serious illness. Recognising the signs early and knowing where to turn can make a big difference.

In this article, we look at what loneliness is, the common life events that can trigger it and how it can affect you. You’ll also find trusted resources and support for young people, adults and parents or caregivers at the end of the page.

Loneliness is the distressing feeling that your need for social connection isn’t being met (Mind)

24% of adults feel lonely often, always, or some of the time (Mind, Big Mental Health Report 2025)

Even though loneliness is part of life, feeling chronically lonely can be detrimental to mental health and knowing when to reach out for support is important

What causes loneliness?

Loneliness has many different causes, which vary from person to person. There are key life points which will increase the likelihood of feeling lonely. Some examples are:

Moving away from home
Starting university or a new job
Becoming a new parent
A relationship break-up
Retirement

You can read more about this here: Loneliness – Every Mind Matters – NHS

How does loneliness affect you?

Research shows that we can start to fall into a cycle of loneliness: the longer we feel lonely the more we start to isolate ourselves. We can start to feel like there is something wrong with us, or that the world is an unfriendly and scary place

Chronic or long-term loneliness can affect our mental and physical health. It can lead to feelings of anxiety and/or depression. Loneliness has been linked to early death and an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, cognitive decline and poor sleep. People who feel lonely are more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s (and other forms of dementia) than those who do not feel lonely

Although it might not seem like it from the outside, loneliness can be an extremely isolating experience. Our resources are a step towards helping you protect yourselves and the people around you by learning about the signs of loneliness and how to combat it