Loneliness and mental health - how to feel happier and less alone

Feeling isolated and socially disconnected from others can be enormously detrimental to both your physical health and your mental wellbeing.

For example, loneliness was recently described as being as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day in a report by the US Surgeon General, Dr Vivek Murthy. Age UK has also previously described to Saga Exceptional how loneliness is a “global mental health issue that can affect anyone, anywhere, and at any age”.

If you’re currently feeling lonely, it’s so important to understand that it’s very common. Many people feel lonely from time to time and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. There are also things that can help.

To learn what can make a difference, we’ve chatted with a leading psychologist and a mental health expert.

How loneliness affects your mental health

Every year, Nuffield Health carries out its Healthier Nation Index research, where it surveys 8,000 UK adults to get a snapshot of how people are feeling about their physical and mental wellbeing. Almost half of those surveyed in 2023 said they experienced feeling lonely every week and 36% said they had experienced changes in both their mental and physical health as a result of feeling lonely. This included not having as much drive, passion or motivation to do the things they previously enjoyed.

Feeling disconnected from others can affect us in a number of ways, explains Lisa Gunn, mental health prevention lead at Nuffield Health.

“Loneliness can have a significant impact on your mental health,” she says. “Numerous research studies have linked loneliness to the development of issues such as depression and poor coping mechanisms such as smoking, physical inactivity and alcohol misuse. Feeling lonely also causes us to feel low in mood and this can impact on our self-esteem.

“Conversely, you can also be surrounded by people and still feel a sense of loneliness”

“This can increase feelings of stress due to not feeling as though you belong or have sufficient support around you," Gunn adds. "Loneliness can also cause issues such as anxiety, which is part of our stress response and our tendency to worry.”

There’s also a strong link between loneliness and increased dementia risk. A 2020 report from the Lancet Commission, featuring research carried out by 28 of the world’s leading dementia experts, highlighted the importance of keeping socially active in midlife and later life to reduce your risk.

We’ve also recently reported on a newly-published study by Japanese researchers that found feeling socially disconnected from friends and family may cause your brain to shrink. Their research also suggests loneliness could play a role in the development of dementia.

How does socialising improve mental health?

Spotting the signs of loneliness

The initial signs of loneliness are fairly subtle, so you may not join the dots initially. Feeling lonely can come and go and only hang around fleetingly.

It’s when you experience several signs of loneliness and you continue to feel low and not quite yourself for several weeks that it may be more of a problem.

According to Dr Blair, these are the most common signs of loneliness:

• Lack of energy
• Things that used to interest you no longer spark joy
• Feeling afraid of change
• Changes in your appetite
• Changes to your sleeping habits – you may find it trickier to get up on a morning or you may start waking more during the night.

5 ways to tackle loneliness and benefit your mental health

1. Check in with yourself

It can be helpful to think about what’s making you feel lonely. “Notice what’s changed in your life to make you feel lonely and think about what needs to happen to change this,” Gunn advises. It’s also helpful to look at the ways in which you are lonely. "For example, do you feel lonely within your community, your social circle or do you feel lonely on a more intimate level?” she says.

2. Tell someone how you're feeling

A problem shared is a problem halved and just simply opening up to a friendly face could make a difference. “The joy of talking to someone about how you’re feeling is that it can also provide some much-needed perspective,” says Dr Blair. “We often feel a lot better just for sharing what’s going on with us.”

3. Brief encounters can make a difference

Smiles and greetings exchanged while you order a coffee or wait for a bus actually do help.

A 2013 study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science found even a very short social interaction with someone you don’t know can help to make you feel happier. Researchers found these brief encounters can also help improve your sense of belonging.

4. Tap into hobbies to increase your social circle

If you feel disconnected from those around you, having a strong interest in common with others can be a natural building block for making new friends.

If you love to sing, act or want to learn to dance, for example, think about joining your local choir or amateur dramatics group or look up where dance classes take place near you.

Age UK also offers many classes and activities nationwide so you’re sure to find something that interests you.

5. Pat yourself on the back

Just by taking that first step towards sharing how you feel with someone or trying something new to tackle your feelings of loneliness, you’re making progress. So, don’t forget to recognise this.

“In the brain, our biggest reward comes from when we praise ourselves,” Dr Blair adds. “So, no matter how small an initial step you take, look at your reflection in the mirror, smile and say well done.”