Feeling lonely

If you're feeling lonely, talking to other people can help. There are also support services, such as Samaritans, that you can contact.

Medical help is available if you're lonely and it's making you feel stressed, anxious or depressed.

Things that can cause loneliness include living or working alone, being retired, illness or disability and social anxiety (social phobia).

• try talking about your feelings to a friend, family member, healthcare professional or counsellor

• join a group or class that focuses on something you enjoy – you could ask to go along and just watch first if you're feeling nervous

• visit places where you can just be around other people – for example, a park, the cinema or a café

• speak to your GP about social prescribing – they may be able to refer you to a link worker who can help find local support and activities near to you

• consider peer support, where people use their experiences to help each other

• volunteer with a charity or organisation in your local area

• do things you enjoy such as walking, exercising or listening to a podcast

• do not try to do everything at once – set small targets that you can easily achieve

• do not focus on the things you cannot change – focus your time and energy into helping yourself feel better

• try not to compare yourself to others – on social media you usually only see things people want to share

• try not to tell yourself that you're alone – many people feel lonely at some point in their life and support is available

• try not to use alcohol, cigarettes, gambling or drugs to relieve loneliness because they can all contribute to poor mental health

Further information and support

• Loneliness (Mind)
• Self-esteem (Mind)
• How to find a support group (Mind)
• Dealing with loneliness (Every Mind Matters)
• Improve your mental health with our Mind Plan (Every Mind Matters)

You may also find the mental wellbeing audio guides useful.

There are a number of ways you can get help if you're lonely and it's making you feel stressed, anxious or depressed.

If you need more support, you can get free talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on the NHS.

You can refer yourself directly to a talking therapies service without a referral from a GP.

• you're struggling to cope with stress, anxiety or a low mood
• you've had a low mood for more than 2 weeks
• things you're trying yourself are not helping
• you would prefer to get a referral from a GP

• you need help urgently, but it's not an emergency

NHS 111 can tell you the right place to get help if you need to see someone. You can call 111 or get help from 111 online .

• you or someone you know needs immediate help
• you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose

A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a medical emergency.

Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

Loneliness has many different causes and it can affect people of all ages.

It's often linked with things that could prevent you spending time with other people, such as:

• living or working alone
• retirement
• illness or disability
• bereavement (losing someone or something)
• moving to a new area, job, school or university
• social anxiety (social phobia)

However, you do not have to be on your own all the time to feel lonely. Many people feel lonely in a relationship or while spending time with friends or family.

Other significant life events such as buying a house, having a baby or planning a wedding could also lead to feelings of loneliness.

You might find it hard to explain to people why you feel this way, but talking to someone could help you find a solution.

Find out more about the 5 steps to mental wellbeing