IT is said that you can be lonely in a crowd or have many friends and still be lonely. Some people, who are on their own, say that they are not lonely. These are not necessarily contradictions.

The dictionary defines loneliness as ‘a person’s perception of lacking their desired closeness and social interaction with others’. A recent report by Carnegie UK suggests that around 3.7 million people (across many age groups) in the UK experienced loneliness in 2020.

Loneliness can seriously affect a person’s physical health comparable to the health effects associated with smoking, obesity or lack of physical activity. That is just how serious it really is. The need for connection and community, according to Dr Dean Ornish, is as fundamental as the need for air, water and food.

This is not a new phenomenon. It is currently being described as a new national crisis. Recent studies have shown that this ‘epidemic’ of loneliness has been around for quite some time.

People do not readily admit that they are lonely as they think that there can be a stigma about admitting to it. Some people report that they feel even more lonely now that the evenings are longer and they are less likely to see anyone.

So if you are feeling lonely, how can you help yourself to beat it? It can be as simple as making eye contact with someone or waving to someone that you pass in the street or perhaps exchanging a few words with them when you see them out and about. Perhaps it could be giving somebody a ring that you’ve not spoken to in a while or calling round to see a relative or a neighbour.

Other ideas include:

• Try and keep busy with fulfilling or fun activities

• Stimulate your mind perhaps by taking a course or listening to podcasts

• Get moving such as having a short walk everyday

• Find people who have been through similar experiences to you via local groups.

So why don’t you give it a try? You might just make someone’s day.