Category: Technology | Published: 2025-10-02
A Growing Demand (And Rising Cost)
Loneliness in the UK is no longer just a personal struggle, but is now a public health issue. For example, according to the government’s 2023–24 Community Life Survey, around 3.1 million people in England report feeling lonely _“often or always.”_ The Office for National Statistics puts the broader figure closer to 1 in 4 adults when occasional loneliness is included.
It seems that young people are among the most affected. Adults aged 16–24 are consistently more likely to report high levels of loneliness than any other age group. The same is true for people living in deprived areas, those with disabilities, and individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex registered at birth.
In health terms, the consequences are serious. For example, prolonged loneliness has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, depression, cognitive decline, and even early death. In fact, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called loneliness _“a greater threat to health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day.”_