Category: Loneliness

Finding connection in a disconnected age: Stories of community in a time of change

Cares Family and Nesta, July 2019

Our need for social connection is at the heart of what it is to be human. It is essential to our health and well-being, the vitality of our communities and has inspired many of the most successful innovations of the modern day. With evermore efficient ways to communicate, many of us have experienced a rapid increase in the number and reach of our connections. And yet, despite these growing networks, we find ourselves increasingly disconnected and many more of us are feeling alone. The stories in this collection paint a rich and varied picture of the many faces of loneliness and what it means to feel disconnected from those around us. But the stories also give us much to be hopeful about.

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The next generation: how intergenerational interaction improves life chances of children and young people

United for All Ages, January 2019
This report looks at how intergenerational interaction can have benefits for children and young people who currently face a growing crisis of confidence, loneliness and anxiety, often fearful about the future, fragmented families, segregated by age, with cuts in services and financial support.  The report finds that interaction between older and younger people can help address these issues – starting at an early age with nurseries and care homes linking, through schools, colleges and universities, to mentoring and community projects.

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A connected society: A strategy for tackling loneliness: Laying the foundations for change

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, October 2018
This strategy sets out the approach to tackling loneliness in England. It marks a shift in the way we see and act on loneliness, both within government and in society more broadly. The strategy looks at what can be done to design in support for social relationships in this changing context. It  highlights the importance of social relationships to people’s health and wellbeing. By social wellbeing, it means our personal relationships and social support networks and the way these can bring happiness, comfort and resilience, adding to our overall wellbeing.
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An overview of reviews: the effectiveness of interventions to address loneliness at all stages of the life-course

What Works Wellbeing, October 2018
The review sought to address the question: What is the effectiveness of interventions to alleviate loneliness in people of all ages across the lifecourse? The results from controlled study designs in community settings and care homes showed no effect of interventions on loneliness, although this does not mean that loneliness is not alleviated at all by a range of interventions. In the published literature loneliness is seldom reported as a primary outcome; it is most often reported alongside other outcomes including related concepts such as social isolation, social support, social networks, and health outcomes including anxiety and depression.
Click here to view the full report.