According to the Belonging Study 2025, around 3 in 10 adults in the UK say they feel lonely often or some of the time, and a further 27% experience it occasionally. It’s something many people will experience at some point in their life and it can be difficult to overcome.
Loneliness Awareness Week, between 9 and 15 June 2025, aims to reduce the stigma of this natural human emotion and encourage people to connect.
Loneliness is defined as a perceived mismatch between the quality and quantity of social connections that a person has, and what they would like to have. So, a person who feels lonely isn’t necessarily alone. There might be people in your life who feel lonely who you would not expect to.
Loneliness can harm your health
While you might think of loneliness as an emotional state, it may have a more complicated effect on your health.
According to the NHS, it’s linked to conditions like anxiety, depression, and poor mental health. It’s also associated with physical conditions, like dementia. What’s more, a 2016 British Heart Foundation study found that social isolation was linked to a 29% increased risk of coronary heart disease and a 32% increased risk of having a stroke.
Whether you feel lonely or know someone who might, starting a conversation could change your outlook and have a positive impact on your life.
4 useful rules that could help you tackle difficult conversations about loneliness
1. View loneliness as a normal emotion
While it can feel strange at first, try to normalise loneliness. It’s something many people feel and if you share your experiences, it’s likely the person you’re speaking to can relate in some way.
Approaching loneliness like it’s a taboo subject can make it feel far scarier, and lead to feeling more isolated than ever. So, approach talking about loneliness with your family and friends the same way you would other day-to-day topics where possible.
2. Avoid negative words and phrases
The language you use can be powerful and affect how a conversation feels. So, avoiding negative words and phrases could make those difficult conversations far more productive and valuable.
For example, rather than saying someone is “suffering” from loneliness, you might say they are “experiencing” it instead. Suffering implies that something is wrong, so it’s a subtle change that helps people feel like they’re in control.
Similarly, when you want to talk about your feelings, you might automatically say, “I am lonely”. While you can describe your experiences in a way that feels most comfortable to you, this phrase can make it seem like loneliness is a permanent state of being, and that it’s part of who you are.
In contrast, “I feel lonely” suggests your feelings are something you can change and improve.
3. Use questions that invite reflection but aren’t judgemental
When you’re having a challenging conversation, it may be difficult not to come across as judgemental even when your intention is the opposite.
For example, if someone tells you they feel lonely, you might ask, “Have you tried joining a social club?” without giving it much thought. Your intention may be to provide a solution, but the person coming to you for help may feel like you’re accusing them of not doing enough.
Instead, try asking questions that invite reflection. You might ask, “Have you been feeling supported lately?”, which provides an opportunity for them to tell you what they need.
4. Leave conversations open
It can take some time to get used to talking about feeling lonely or wider mental health challenges. So, make sure the conversation remains open if you feel like you could benefit from talking to the person again.
Letting the person know how valuable you found their company or that you’d like to catch up again could mean loneliness is an easier topic to broach next time, or even prompt the other person to initiate it.
If you’re talking to someone who is lonely or you think could be struggling with their mental health, leaving conversations open-ended or with an invitation may be useful.
It could be as simple as saying “you can always talk to me” to let them know you’re there for them should they need you.
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Approved by Best Practice IFA Group 06/05/2025.