How To Spot Loneliness

The person may be not eating as they usually do. 

The person may be talking and acting very negatively, including negative thoughts about their self worth. 

The person may be neglecting their personal hygiene or not keeping up their daily hygiene routine. 

The person may have an irregular or changing sleeping pattern e.g. late to bed, late to rise.

The person's appearance may have changed (e.g. they could be looking paler or more tired than usual). 

If you notice a friend, a loved one or a neighbour showing signs of loneliness, the first thing is to talk to that person. At first, they may not even realise they are lonely, and may also be blaming their change in behaviour on external factors, such as a lack of sleep. It's important to remember that someone may also be experiencing signs of loneliness, even if they are surrounded by friends or family. 

There are many factors that can cause a person to feel lonely or isolated. A few examples can include; losing a loved one, moving away from family and friends, being out of work and out of contact with colleagues and experiencing health problems that prevent them from leaving the house.

For a person dealing with loneliness, having someone to talk to is the most important thing. If you know someone who may be experiencing loneliness, take some time to talk to them. If it is a family member, you can also consider getting care for your loved ones such as arranging a carer to visit a couple of times a week to chat with them, and make sure they are ok. 

Together, we can help fight loneliness in the UK.