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Wednesday 22 March 2023 Dublin: 10°C

# Loneliness

Last year
2022
# ALONE
Leading charity needs to double volunteer base due to 'endemic' loneliness among older people
‘People are very good, but unfortunately the demand is very high,’ said the ALONE CEO.
All time
Voices
Opinion: 'Covid left many feeling disregarded by society because they don’t live in a family unit'
Yvonne Barnes-Holmes says that the level of suffering created by a lack of social interaction is just beginning to emerge.
Covid-19 and restrictions have had 'devastating impact' on mental health of LGBTI+ young people in Ireland
A new report provides insight into what life is like for LGBTI+ young people.
# Mental Health
Young women in Ireland report being loneliest in EU, study finds
The findings were the first published from Eurofound’s living, working and Covid-19 online survey.
# Loneliness
One-third of Irish adults over 50 report feeling lonely at least some of the time
The report will be launched today by researchers at Trinity College Dublin.
# Mental Health
First of its kind fund launched to tackle loneliness
The first of its kind fund will go towards helping local groups and community-based projects.
# Mental Health
'Sometimes they're just lonely and want a chat': What it means to volunteer at Childline
Childline saw it’s seventh millionth phone call earlier this year – we sat down with some volunteers to see what Childline means to them.
Voices
Why we need a minister with responsibility for loneliness
In the most interconnected period in history people are lonelier than ever writes Senator and GP Keith Swanick.
# Sleep deprivation
Poor sleep triggers viral loneliness and social rejection, study finds
That alienating vibe also makes sleep-deprived individuals more socially unattractive to others.
# Loneliness
'I feel more secure': How HomeShare has been bringing the old and young together
We visited John and Amy who have been taking part in the service.
# Lonely
'It's an epidemic': Taskforce established to tackle issue of loneliness in Ireland
Loneliness is one of the greatest public health risks today.”
Voices
'At a time such as Storm Emma we can feel the emptiness of endless time without boundaries'
We gave little thought to the psychological and emotional stresses of Storm Emma’s enforced isolation, writes Stephanie Regan.
# Your Say
Poll: Should Ireland have a minister for loneliness?
The UK recently appointed a minister for that position.
Voices
Despite all our new communication modes, people are lonelier than ever
Loneliness is as prevalent in the young as it is in the old, it just manifests itself differently, writes Dr Keith Swanick.
# Mental Health
Britain appoints 'Minister for Loneliness' to tackle the 'sad reality of modern life'
More than nine million people in the UK say they are always or often lonely, according to the British Red Cross.
# join in
'It can be a rough time': How comedian Sarah Millican is helping people who spend Christmas alone
This is the seventh year of her #joinin initiative which encourages those who are by themselves on Christmas Day to chat to join the online conversation for some company.
# ALONE
'I'd love more people to come out to me because I'm not getting out as much as I used to'
Alone is asking people to take the time to call into an elderly neighbour over Christmas.
Voices
It's very Irish to be ashamed if you don’t stumble upon love by some act of serendipity
“Actually admitting that we would be happier in a relationship seems to be an emotional hot potato,” says Rena Maycock.
# lovely
A woman reached out to a lonely Daily Mail commenter and something wonderful happened
Prepare to have your heart warmed.
Voices
Guess what? It’s OK to be single, feel sad or have a few pounds to lose
Social media keeps us connected to each another but disconnected from the truth.
Voices
It's a jungle out there – how do you date successfully in modern Ireland?
The rules of engagement for dating, both in Ireland and around the world, have changed.
# Turn2Me
Online counselling offers easy-to-reach support for depression and anxiety
Its proponents say it offers advantages over other services – but just how popular is e-therapy in Ireland? We talk to mental health support website Turn2Me.org.
# Depression
Fears that deaths by suicide rose over Christmas period
Calls to Console’s helpline rose by one third over the festive season.
Voices
Opinion: Learning from the Paris bloodshed – the need for an intercultural Ireland
Irish sports clubs, and in particular the GAA, have been immeasurable helpful in warmly welcoming young people from diverse backgrounds.
Voices
Column: Too much “stuff” – what causes hoarding?
Hoarding is far from rare, and yet it remains largely misunderstood.
# Christmas
If you need to talk to somebody today, there are people who WANT to listen
Christmas can be the worst time of the year for some – but there is help out there.
Voices
Opinion: Breaking up (around Christmas) is hard to do
Ending a relationship at this time of year can magnify the perception that everyone else is having a great time with their loved ones.
Voices
Opinion: A simple act of kindness could help someone feeling alone at this time of year
Spare a thought for those who will be on their own over the holiday period – this can be one of the worst times of the year.
Voices
Opinion: You’re never too old to talk – so don't overlook older people's mental health
Some great strides have been made in this country in recent years to tackle mental health issues, but let’s make sure all people in society are cared for.
Voices
Opinion: Yes, social media sometimes makes us feel alone – but it also shows we're not
In our haste to condemn all things Facebook and Twitter, let’s not forget they also present huge opportunities for realising we are not alone in our struggles.
# Loneliness
A helpline is the only contact some elderly people have with others
Over 2,000 people have called Senior Help Line in the first three months of this year.
# early death
Loneliness is a health risk for the elderly
Loneliness has twice the impact of obesity on premature death.
# Loneliness
Older generation feeling 'harsh impact' of emigration, says helpline
Senior Help Line has seen a “worrying” increase in the number of calls.
# Your Say
Poll: Will you call into a neighbour today?
On Christmas Day, is there someone outside the family that you’ll be checking in on?
# Loneliness
Christmas can 'heighten feelings of loneliness and despair'
If you need to talk, there are people who want to listen.
Voices
Column: For many this Christmas, loneliness will turn the minutes into hours
It has been a brutal, punishing year for many people across this country. As we enter a new year, let’s focus on one another again and take the responsibility to lead others through this darkness and out the other side, writes Gareth O’Callaghan.
Voices
Column: Is loneliness in old age inevitable? Not in a caring society.
Everyone needs to feel wanted and remembered, but many older people are being left isolated because of rapid economic, social and technological changes, writes Anne Dempsey.
# need to know
Tonight's Evening Fix... now with added thumbs up (and down)
Here are the things we learned, loved and shared today.
Voices
Column: Why I wanted to make a movie about isolation in rural Ireland
IFTA Rising Star winner, Gerard Barrett, says people in Ireland don’t talk enough about how they feel – which can lead to tragedy. In making his award-winning movie, Pilgrim Hill, for just €4500, he lifted the lid on loneliness experienced by country farmers.
Voices
Sitdown Sunday: 7 deadly reads
The very best of the week’s writing from around the web.