Feeling lonely

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Most people feel lonely sometimes, for many different reasons. If loneliness is affecting your life, there are things you can try that may help. Support is also available if you're finding it hard to cope with stress, anxiety or depression.

Do

  • 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

Don't

  • 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

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.

Find NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression

See a GP if:

  • 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

Call NHS 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment if:

  • 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.

Call 999 or go to A&E now if:

  • 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:

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

Loneliness can affect people of any age, but older people are particularly at risk if they live alone or do not have regular contact with others.

Things that may help if you're older

If you're an older person and feeling lonely you could try:

  • keeping in touch with friends or family by phone or video chat using services such as Teams, Zoom, FaceTime or Viber
  • joining local groups, classes or community activities
  • starting small conversations when you're out – for example in shops or in the GP waiting room
  • inviting someone over, even for a short visit
  • using social media, such as Facebook, Instagram or X, to stay connected
  • planning ahead and putting things in your diary to look forward to, such as going for a walk, visiting family or friends, or going to the cinema
  • volunteering

You can also find support and befriending services from organisations like Age UK, The Silver Line or Re-engage.

Find out how to help lonely older people in your community

School Health Service

Speak to the team for more information.

Contact us

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Local stakeholders

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