Should we be concerned about a loneliness epidemic in Ireland?

The US surgeon-general declared it a health epidemic. The WHO has made it a global health priority. And it’s more prevalent in Ireland than any other EU country, prompting calls for crisis action.

No, it’s not the flu, or another strain of Covid. It’s loneliness. Which, as of last year, has been broadly accepted as a health risk.

An EU-wide survey of more than 25,000 people found that 13% reported feeling lonely most or all of the time in 2022, while 35% reported being lonely at least some of the time, amounting to almost half of all respondents. And it may come as a surprise that loneliness was most prevalent in Ireland, where more than 1 in 5 people reported frequently feeling lonely.

This loneliness can have both physical and mental impacts, explains licensed marriage and family therapist Sophie Cress. “The effects of loneliness on one’s physical and mental health are significant. It may psychologically result in depressive, anxious or low self-esteem feelings,” she says. “Physically, loneliness has been linked to a variety of health issues, including cardiovascular problems, weakened immune function, and disrupted sleep patterns.”

The more persistent the feelings of loneliness become, the worse the impact can be. “Chronic loneliness can elevate stress hormone levels, contributing to inflammation and a compromised immune system. Lonely people may be more likely to turn to harmful coping strategies like binge eating or drug misuse, which can exacerbate physical health issues,” says Sophie.

“Loneliness has significant effects on cognitive function in addition to its effects on mental and physical health,” she adds. “The lack of meaningful contact and social involvement deprives the brain of the stimulation necessary to sustain healthy cognitive functions. This lack of cognitive stimulation over time may cause problems with focus, memory recall and problem-solving abilities.”

The US Department of Health even claims that a lack of social connection increases risk of premature death by more than 60%, which could stem from conditions associated to these issues.

“Studies have shown that chronic loneliness is associated with a higher chance of developing illnesses like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, which in turn has been linked to cognitive impairment in older persons,” Sophie explains. “Although the exact mechanisms causing this link remain unknown, they might include increased stress, inflammation, and structural and functional alterations in the brain brought on by extended social isolation.”

What makes people lonely?

With all the health implications arising from loneliness, we need to dig deeper into what makes us lonely in order to mitigate these risks.

The EU survey found that the prevalence of loneliness decreased as age, income and education increased, and so students and unemployed people were found to be among the most affected groups.

Maintaining several meaningful relationships is attributed to lower loneliness levels, however, the frequency of contact is also important. “Social connections are stress reducers that provide emotional support and company when things are tough,” Sophie explains. “People who don’t have these connections experience higher levels of stress since they don’t have the support networks to lower them.”

Close relationships with family and friends help with loneliness, and individuals who are in touch with family members and friends at least once a week are less likely to be lonely. This includes contact via telephone, social media or other online channels.

The quality of relationships also has a role to play. Those that live with another adult are less likely to be lonely than those living alone, but while happy relationships are associated with lower levels of loneliness, those in unhappy relationships are more likely to be lonely than single individuals.

Why is Ireland such a lonely place?

In an age of near-constant connectivity, it’s ironic that, globally, we feel this isolated. And, while Ireland exhibits heightened levels of loneliness, this is undoubtedly a worldwide issue. Ministers for loneliness have been appointed by Japan, the UK, the state of New York and others, with many other countries crying out for their own.

As Ireland undergoes a government reshuffle, there are reasons why such an appointment would be necessary here as there are features of Irish life that could correlate with this intrinsic feeling of loneliness amongst the population.

How many of the average Irish person’s weekly meet-ups or evenings out are centred around alcohol? A known depressant and addictive substance, alcohol contributes hugely to the overall high numbers of depression around the country. But, if you take it away, there is a huge gap in the social lives of most on the island. For young people and older people alike – and in rural Ireland especially – there is a severe lack of funding for community activities, social development and the isolation afflicting so much of the country.

Robert* (29) from Limerick city, agrees that the lack of social spaces can have a real effect on that feeling of loneliness: “It can be really hard to break out of the loneliness cycle. There’s no real way to make friends or talk to people outside of drinking at the pub, or playing sports. Even then, you have to really put yourself out there, which can be intimidating. So you end up staying at home, not giving yourself the chance to make friends. Then you feel worse because you’re still lonely, but now you’re not trying, and it just keeps spiralling downwards until you can’t see a way out.”

Described in sociology as the ‘third space’, a place away from the home and the workplace, where you don’t have to pay for alcohol or food to stay, is essential for the proper functioning of a society. Ireland has a serious lack of these spaces, and this drives the loneliness epidemic even further.

Add to that growing rates of emigration, a cost of living crisis, a housing crisis, and a serious feeling of discontent amongst the younger Irish people, and you have a multitude of factors that could be linked to this epidemic of loneliness.

The Irish government needs to take hold of this problem before it grows any further, assigning, at the very least, a junior minister for loneliness to work on this issue exclusively.

* Name has been changed

If you’re struggling to put yourself out there to make new connections, you can take steps to grow your confidence in this masterclass with life coach Mark Fennell.