No One Alone: Findings

Loneliness is feeling disconnected, excluded and alone even when you may be surrounded by others. These emotions are intensified when a person’s desired social interactions are not met.

Social isolation occurs when an individual is physically separated away from others. It is about the quantity and not quality of relationships. While some people may choose to have a small number of contacts, others may suffer from the lack of interactions.

Despite being separate concepts, they are connected and can happen at the same time. Our individual experiences are different, based on our social needs and desires.

The list below identifies groups of people who are most at risk of being affected. The Salvation Army is already dedicated to helping many of these people. This presents us with a great opportunity to accompany people though times of loneliness and isolation.

Vulnerable groups include:

• Carers
• Disabled people
• LGBTQI+ community
• Young people, more specifically those aged 16-24 years
• Migrants and those from (some) ethnic minority groups
• Asylum seekers and refugees
• Veterans 
• Older people 
• Homeless people 

Why are these groups more at risk?

The groups listed are often rejected by society through physical barriers or discrimination. For example, event venues may lack transportation links or be unaccommodating for people with disabilities. This can alienate individuals and strengthen their feelings of being unloved, ignored and unwelcome. There can be many other reasons that also cause these feelings to build up.

Both direct and indirect interventions are important in reducing loneliness and social isolation.

Direct interventions directly help people who are affected, while indirect interventions include wider changes. Using both approaches means your building, mindset and social actions are more effective in transforming loneliness and social isolation.

Reflect on the image below. Which of these elements are you already doing?

This image could be useful in reviewing existing programmes or as a foundation for new ideas.

‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’ (John 13:34)

Throughout the Bible, many characters express feelings of loneliness and isolation. They include Adam (Genesis 2), David (Psalms 25:16 and 142:4), the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19) and Jesus himself (Matthew 26:36-46). Yet each of them is reminded of God’s presence and unending love. At the beginning of the Bible, God states that he doesn’t want us to be alone (Genesis 2:18). As a result, Eve was provided by God to offer Adam companionship and create a community on Earth.

Mother Theresa said, ‘We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair and hopelessness is love.’

All Salvation Army leaders, employees and volunteers are called to ‘Love God, Love Others’ in our local communities. As we come into contact with people who are lonely or isolated, it is important to remind others of God’s comfort.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exploring-interventions-to-tackle-loneliness/evaluation-of-interventions-to-tackle-loneliness

Evaluation of interventions to tackle loneliness, Gov UK. This report evaluates the effectiveness of different efforts to tackle loneliness. The findings recommend the most effective ways to respond to this crisis. Some of these recommendations have been highlighted in the ‘How can I make a difference?’ section on this page.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-government-research-shows-lonely-seems-to-be-the-hardest-word-for-students 

‘Lonely seems to be the hardest word for students’, Gov UK. This research article highlights the impact loneliness and social isolation has on young adults (18-24) particularly students. 43 per cent of young adults believe their peers would judge them if they said they felt lonely.