With the right help, you can beat teen loneliness
IN THE words of murdered MP Jo Cox: ‘Loneliness does not discriminate.’ Whether you are young or old, extroverted or introverted, living on a bustling High Street or, like me, in the countryside, sadly feeling isolated is all too common. Research has shown young people feel the loneliest, with 40 per cent of 16-to-24 year-olds stating they often, or very often, feel lonely, compared with 27 per cent of over-75s. The Prime Minister has announced school pupils will learn about the value of social relationships — something I wish I’d had access to. My loneliness began when I couldn’t find local friends. I felt isolated in my small Cornish home town. When I decided to stop hanging out with a group who I felt were a negative influence, they began to abuse me verbally, using homophobic slurs. So I hid away, too scared even to pick up the phone. I began to suffer from depression and anxiety. I eventually decided to try to do something about it. At school I heard about a summer programme for teenagers, the National Citizen Service (NCS), and signed up. In my first week, I went rock climbing with people my age. As I’d done it before, they were asking me for advice, which gave me the confidence to start chatting. Though we had different personalities, we bonded. Since the programme, I’m more outgoing and optimistic. I’ve stayed in contact with the new friends I made and am now a member of the NCS Youth Board. For the Government’s loneliness strategy to work, we need to develop close-knit communities accessible to those who are feeling isolated. Jo Cox also said: ‘I will not live in a country where thousands of people are living lonely lives, forgotten by the rest of us.’ I’m hoping we won’t have to.