Today the Office of National Statistics (ONS) released new analysis and data loneliness in the UK. They found that In 2016 to 2017, there were 5% of adults in England who reported feeling lonely “often” or “always”.
Laura Alcock-Ferguson Executive Director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, said:
“We welcome the data released by ONS today. Loneliness is not simply the result of someone’s personality or character; it’s vital to acknowledge contributors to loneliness such as health and economic status. The Campaign to End Loneliness is working into all four nations throughout the UK to investigate the wider context of loneliness, and will have initial results of our work later this year.
“The data shows that loneliness can affect all ages – but that older people, particularly widows and widowers, are acutely vulnerable to loneliness. We know that triggers for loneliness often happen in quick succession in later life, and the routes out of loneliness for older people are potentially more challenging. The loneliness of older people therefore requires concerted attention and effort if we are to address it. This is one of the reasons why we focus much of our work on later life.
“The ONS data also reveals a sense of belonging to your community can have a big impact on your experience of loneliness. Clearly, the need for action to harness our sense of community is more needed than ever. On 9th May, the Campaign to End Loneliness is launching a new public movement to bring people together again, create a sense of belonging and inspire connections to tackle loneliness.”
