As I mentioned earlier in this Loneliness Awareness Week, we can all feel lonely or isolated sometimes and usually this resolves over time as situations change for us. Prolonged and/or intense experiences of loneliness can have huge impacts on our wellbeing, and on the health of our communities. The World Health Organisation is so concerned about the effects of loneliness, it has set up a Commission on Social Connection which aims to see the issue recognised and resourced as

This week is Loneliness Awareness Week (15-21st June 2026). Loneliness is a common feeling-it’s something we all feel at times in our lives. Loneliness is different to being alone, however. Loneliness is about whether or not we feel we belong, not just with others, but also with ourselves. Loneliness is a mismatch between the sense of belonging we would like to have, or what we might imagine or hope for, and what we actually experience. This subjective mismatch is experienc