Feeling lonely and lacking social connections can happen to anyone of any age.
Loneliness is when someone lacks having enough social contact or close and meaningful relationships with other people. The charity Mind compares feeling lonely to feeling hungry. Just as feeling hungry tells your body you need food, loneliness is a way of your body telling you that you need more social contact.
The pandemic has been a very difficult time when many of us have been physically separated from our family and friends or the people who support us. People are, by nature, social creatures so lacking enough social connection or friendship can have a huge impact on our mental wellbeing.
We might feel that we have no one to talk to or get support from. It can be harder to go out or enjoy activities if we’re lonely and we could feel like there is nothing to look forward to. Even if we’re surrounded by people, we still need meaningful connections to feel that someone cares how we are.
It’s important that everyone finds ways to feel connected to other people. Whether that’s by keeping in contact with family, friends or neighbours; becoming part of a social group or network; or through volunteering.