Loneliness and Mental Health Posted or Updated on 17 Mar 2023

Overcoming loneliness: Mental Health Awareness Week

More than 9 million people in the UK say they often or always feel lonely. And the impact of the pandemic has only added weight to this already sky-rocketing statistic.

Social connections are essential to living a meaningful, purposeful and happy life. These vital connections provide us with a sense of identity and belonging, acting as an antidote to loneliness. 

That said, you don’t have to be physically alone to feel loneliness. You can find yourself in a crowd of people and still feel sad, withdrawn, and isolated inside. If you’re battling the depths of loneliness right now, know that these feelings won’t last forever. 

Loneliness can have a direct effect on mental health—and vice versa. That’s why this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, running from the 9th-15th of May, will focus on the loneliness topic. 

So in this article, we’re going to dive deeper into the signs of loneliness, how it can impact mental health and ways we can overcome it when it occurs. 

Loneliness and Mental Health (PDF, 1.03MB)