People can often be surprised of the health impacts that loneliness and social isolation can have.
- Loneliness, living alone and poor social connections are as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
- Loneliness is worse for you than obesity.
- Loneliness and social isolation are associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke.
- Loneliness increases the risk of high blood pressure.
- Loneliness with severe depression is associated with early mortality and loneliness is a risk factor for depression in later life.
- Loneliness and social isolation put individuals at greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
- Loneliness may increase your risk of premature mortality by 26%.
- Research commissioned by Eden Project initiative The Big Lunch found that disconnected communities could be costing the UK economy £32 billion every year.
Please remember that there are things we can all do and that you are not alone if you are feeling lonely. Quite often it only takes something small to reverse the pattern and feelings of loneliness. There are lots of suggestions of what you can do right here on this webpage or check out the guides in the links.