Understanding Loneliness
45% of adults feel occasionally, sometimes, or often lonely in England. This equates to over 25 million people.
On top of this, 3.3 million people living in Britain are chronically lonely. More than 1 million people go for over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour, or family member.
Loneliness can have a huge effect on us, and we want to truly understand the problem, so we can help solve it.
What is loneliness?
‘Being alone’ is not the same as loneliness. Many people are perfectly content to spend time alone without it affecting their happiness.
The difference between being alone and being lonely is that loneliness often brings feelings of sadness and isolation with it. When people don’t get the companionship they need, they can become progressively more lonely, but loneliness isn’t necessarily about being on your own; you can also feel lonely when you’re surrounded by people.
Loneliness also isn’t specific to one age group. A survey by The University of Manchester found that 16 to 24 year olds experience loneliness more often than any other age group, with 40% of people in that age group reporting that they feel lonely often or very often. 65 to 74 year olds are the second loneliest group, with 29% of respondents answering that they feel lonely often or very often.
This just goes to show how widespread loneliness can be, and how it can affect anyone.
What are the effects of loneliness?
Loneliness can seriously affect your mental and physical health; did you know that loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day?
Associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide, loneliness can definitely have an effect on mental health too. People are social creatures; when we feel like we aren’t connecting properly with others, it can cause us to feel low and makes us more vulnerable to feelings of loneliness.
On top of this, frequent feelings of loneliness and isolation can lead to health issues, especially in older people, including a greater risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. It really does take its toll on our bodies and minds, so it’s super important we take action to help people struggling with loneliness.
How can you help?
Loneliness is a hard thing to tackle, especially because it’s such a personal experience.
However, there are actions you can take to make a difference in the lives of people experiencing loneliness, and we’re helping you do that through the OnHand app.
You can find all of the following missions and pledges on the app, so don’t hesitate to check them out!
🦋 Pick up a befriending phone call
Our befriending phone calls are our most needed request on the app. We link you up with an elderly or isolated person who’d quite like a natter, and you can provide them with company and companionship whenever it suits the both of you.
🦋 Do befriending call online training
Doing a befriending phone call can be nerve-wracking, especially as most of us aren’t used to talking to strangers. The OnHand team will provide tips and tricks to have a great call and hopefully ease your nerves!
🦋 Neighbourhood chatter
Why not spread some cheer and company by having a chat with a neighbour who might be lonely? Taking just 5 minutes to check in on a neighbour can make a real difference to their day.
Keep trying 🙏
There’s no quick fix for loneliness, we know, but doing small, meaningful things for the people in your local community can still make a difference.
Doing what you can, even if it’s only a little bit, is way better than doing nothing at all.
We can all do our part for the loneliness epidemic, and we can’t wait to see what you get up to.
If you want to help tackle loneliness but aren’t partnered with us, never fear! Let’s get things started: beonhand.co.uk/book-a-demo.