New scheme launched in bid to tackle loneliness

A NEW service to help people who feel isolated is set to launch in Belfast as a recent study warns that Northern Ireland is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic.

One in five adults in the country (20%) are always or often lonely according to the study from the Co-op and British Red Cross.

Key triggers identified by the study include becoming a new mother at a young age, facing empty nest syndrome or retirement, experiencing long-term health mobility problems, dealing with bereavement and going through a family breakdown such as divorce or separation.

In response to the problem, the British Red Cross will next year launch its community connectors