ALONE asks for Action to Combat Loneliness this Valentine’s Day

ALONE the national organisation that enables people to age at home, loves to celebrate Valentines Day with the special people in our lives but we need to work to improve our society for those who are experiencing loneliness every day. They are asking Government to commit to a strategy to stop the harm being caused by loneliness across Ireland to people of every age. The EU commission released a report last year that stated Ireland was one of the loneliest places in Europe with an average score of 20% compared to an EU average of 13%.  

ALONE sees firsthand the effects of loneliness on our older population but the survey was across all ages showing that it is a societal problem that needs to be addressed at all levels. 

ALONE CEO Sean Moynihan said “The simple fact of the matter is that the medical evidence points out that loneliness kills. It has harmful physical and mental health effects. The NGO sector has brought together academics and organisations across the life course under the Loneliness Taskforce banner to address the harmful effects loneliness is having on our society. ALONE’s Community Impact Network is a group of over 40 organisations that provide support and befriending interventions across the country in person and by telephone that work together and they share resources, knowledge and training with them. Yet we still have thousands of people today suffering from loneliness due to a lack of meaningful connections in their lives.” 

Continuing “We do not have figures for Ireland and we need government support to identify them but we know loneliness is expensive. The US Surgeon General’s report said that social isolation among older adults accounts for an estimated $6.7bn in excess Medicare spending each year. We are guessing the costs in Ireland, so it would be a start to make €5m commitment to develop an action plan.” 

The World Health Organisation announced late last year a new commission on Social Connection, to address loneliness as a pressing health threat. England, Wales and Scotland have loneliness action plans and strategies and Denmark launched its strategy last year also.  

Although Ireland has committed to develop an action plan to combat loneliness in the Healthy Ireland Action Plan, The Roadmap for Social Inclusion and the current Programme for Government, no resource has yet been allocated to this in the Dept of Health. 

While we celebrate love, friendship and relationships this Valentines Day we are mindful of those who are facing another day without meaningful social connections and ask for a commitment to start solving this issue for all of them.