Lonely Society

I recently read the Mental Health Foundation’s report The Lonely Society? It suggests that young adults are the loneliest age group in our society. For example, nearly 60% of those aged between 18 to 34 questioned spoke of feeling lonely often or sometimes, compared to 35% of those aged over 55.

The report puts these high levels of loneliness down to the decline of community and to a growing focus on work. It also highlighted the fact that the proportion of people living alone had doubled between 1972 and 2008. New technology also played a part. On the one hand it has allowed people to make connections they might not otherwise have made, but on the other it can weaken existing connections. For example, nearly a third of young people questioned said they spent too much time communicating with friends and families online when they should see them in person.

A lot of these findings ring true on our street. There certainly isn’t a strong sense of local community (although hopefully this is changing). People generally seem to leave their homes to go to work, come home, watch a bit of TV and go to bed. And a number of these people live on their own.

As part of our ongoing attempts to address this, last Sunday we had another street barbeque, and 24 people came along. It was a great time, with most people hanging around all afternoon (and no rain this year!). I had a good chat with a guy a few doors down that I hadn’t properly connected with before. Turns out his partner works away all week, so he’s on his own, so I’m hoping we’ll be able to draw him into a few of our other regular activities.

So while reports like The Lonely Society? don’t paint a great picture of our society, they do highlight real opportunities. We’re finding that simply offering time and friendship can have a profound effect on people’s lives.

Tim