We are too shy to discuss pain of loneliness

BRITONS would rather talk about death, money or body image than admit that they feel lonely, a survey has revealed.

Two thirds of British people would find it uncomfortable to confide in a family member or friend that they needed some company, because loneliness carries a social stigma of being associated with mental health.

The research, which polled 2,000 people, also showed that three in 10 people know someone in their community who appears to be lonely, while one in 10 said feeling lonely was some- thing that affected them daily. High divorce rates, greater workforce movement, a rise in single-occupancy homes and the popularity of social media have all been named as factors that contribute to feeling lonely.

Recent studies have also shown that loneliness can be twice as bad for a person’s health as being obese and it can cause a sense of despair that accompanies depression and anxiety.

Commenting on the survey, which was carried out by the Co-operative Group, Richard Pennycook, its chief executive, said: “Loneliness is one of our biggest social issues, but gets little public attention. Our members over- whelmingly chose it as our campaign issue this year, illustrating how pervasive it is.

“From young people struggling to find their identity, to single parents bringing up kids, to carers coping with dementia, to the elderly left on their own, it does not discriminate.

“In partnership with the British Red Cross, we intend to highlight the impact loneliness has on people’s lives, whilst raising millions of pounds to help tackle it.”

A separate study showed that more than half of British people visit an elderly neighbour every week to check how they are feeling.