In many Western societies, during festive periods such as Christmas, which are marked by conviviality and social congregation, lonely people frequently feel lonelier. This is an inevitable consequence of our modern society, in which the extended family has become obsolete, the nuclear family is disintegrating, face-to-face dialogue has become undervalued, and digital interactions on social media are replacing neighbourly camaraderie and real-life social networks. Most recently, loneliness has been further magnified by enforced social isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.
Loneliness afflicts people in all human societies, even when they are surrounded by others, and is best defined as a subjective feeling of emptiness, abandonment, and rejection, which can be associated with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and sleep problems. It must not be equated with voluntary solitude, which can be a deliberate life choice for some- an extreme example of which can be seen in the self-fulfilled lives of hermits who have achieved spiritual nirvana during strictly enforced isolation.
According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, 25.99 million people in the UK, accounting for 49. 63 per cent of adults, reported occasional or persistent feelings of loneliness in 2022. It is a significant problem in the capital city of London, despite a population of over nine million. Detrimental to both physical and mental health, loneliness has invited much scrutiny in recent years. The Reconceptualising Loneliness in London report was thus commissioned by the Greater London Authority and released in March 2022, having been authored by the Neighbourly Lab, the Campaign to End Loneliness, and the What Works Centre for Wellbeing. According to the report, London is a hotspot for loneliness in the United Kingdom, with 700,000 Londoners admitting to severe loneliness. The prevalence of loneliness is higher among low-income, young, deaf and disabled, and LGBTQ+ Londoners, single parents, and among some ethnic minority groups.
Quite apart from seasonal events such as Christmas, loneliness can be precipitated by destabilising life events or experiences, such as broken relationships or bereavement; loss of employment, a change of jobs, or retirement; moving to new area or country; or starting at university. The lack of a common underlying cause makes it difficult to suggest remedies that can be applied across the board.
Just as we embark upon measuring and monitoring loneliness, we have to consider potential options to combat what can be a most debilitating and self-perpetuating condition. Some lonely people withdraw further from social contact, even as they are actively shunned by others, and cultivate negative, self-deprecating thoughts.
Many self-help remedies require self-initiative and assume a degree of psychological resilience. Joining gyms, sport clubs, or interest groups, taking on creative activities or enjoyable hobbies, volunteering, communing with nature, acquiring companion pets, co-living, are among the many alternatives to be considered. Unfortunately, these options cannot be readily accessed by certain groups of the lonely, including the disabled, the elderly, and members of certain ethnic minorities. Vulnerable lonely people need to be actively sought out and then supported by external bodies, including local government, charities, and community groups, so they can connect with their local communities. Societal wellbeing demands innovative and self-sustaining approaches that transcend seasonal expressions of solidarity with the lonely and needy. For a start, it is up to each of us to become more aware of our immediate neighbours, so that lonely people do not inadvertently disappear under the radar, only to emerge when disaster strikes.
Ashis Banerjee