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Most people feel lonely sometimes, for many different reasons. If loneliness is affecting your life, there are things you can try that may help. Support is also available if you're finding it hard to cope with stress, anxiety or depression.
- Further Resources
- Helplines
- References
British Red Cross: Free mental health and wellbeing tools to reduce loneliness for young people.Young Minds: Things you can do to stop feelings lonelyLet’s Talk Loneliness: Toolkit, resources and supportEvery Mind Matters: what you can do if you feel lonely during the coronavirus outbreakThe Mix: 0808 808 4994 (UK). They also have a crisis messenger service.Children’s and young people’s experiences of loneliness - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)Dec 4, 2023 · Whether you occasionally feel a little lonely when you’re at home by yourself or you experience a deep sense of loneliness that never goes away, it’s important to address loneliness in a healthy way. Here are 10 things you can do right away when you feel lonely.
- New-situation loneliness. You’ve moved to a new city where you don’t know anyone, or you’ve started a new job, or you’ve started at a school full of unfamiliar faces.
- I’m-different loneliness. You’re in a place that’s not unfamiliar, but you feel different from other people in an important way that makes you feel isolated.
- No-sweetheart loneliness. Even if you have lots of family and friends, you feel lonely because you don’t have the intimate attachment of a romantic partner.
- No-animal loneliness. Many people have a deep need to connect with animals. If this describes you, you’re sustained by these relationships in a way that human relationships don’t replace.
Understanding our own reasons for feeling lonely can help identify and manage these feelings. Find out about possible signs of loneliness, reasons we feel lonely and ways to manage it. There are also links to more support if you or someone else needs it.
Feeling lonely can have a negative impact on your mental health, especially if you've felt lonely for a long time. Some research suggests that loneliness can increase stress. It's also associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems.
Loneliness. Explains loneliness, including the causes of loneliness and how it relates to mental health problems. Gives practical tips to help manage feelings of loneliness, and other places you can go for support. Read this page in Welsh (Cymraeg) How can I manage loneliness?