Loneliness

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#Loneliness

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The service hosted 52,748 conversations in 2025, a 9.4% increase on the year before.</p>

news

Text helpline sees record number of struggling people make contact

Text service sees spike in conversations about housing problems and loneliness

<p>Seantor Joe Conway challenged SpunOut CEO Sinéad Keane's call for action on youth loneliness during Wednesday's Oireachtas education committee session. File picture</p>

politics

Senator asks if SpunOut view on loneliness has 'a dimension of snowflake syndrome'

<p>Richard Hogan: "When parents sit down with me and ask “how do we get her off the phone?”, the question I have for them is “if she wasn’t on the phone what would she be doing?” There is often a profound silence as parents ponder the answer to that question."</p>

people

Richard Hogan: Teenage girls are the loneliest group in the world — how can we solve this?

Celebrity Sightings - Paris Fashion Week - Womenswear Fall/Winter 2025/2026 - Day Five

comment-analysis

David Beckham's fears of an empty nest are very relatable to this Irish Mammy

Lonely senior woman sitting on sofa indoors at Christmas, solitude concept.

comment-analysis

Sean Duke: Lonely Ireland is not doing enough to tackle killer epidemic

Students on semiar

yourview

Letters to the Editor: ‘Loneliness took hold of me in a school full of people’

The man and a woman laying under a duvet. evening night time. view from above

Catholic guilt still plays 'massive part' in the lives of Irish people, says Cork sex therapist

Therapist Donal Clifford is keen to point out how remnants of old Catholic Ireland remain ingrained in our collective psyche and are putting a stranglehold on some people's sexuality, writes Sarah Horgan

Sat, 20 Jul, 2024

Sharing ideas. Teens holding empty speech bubbles

Colman Noctor: Teaching communication skills to help teens connect

Listening skills are fundamental to nurturing well-rounded, capable, and empathetic individuals.  

Tue, 16 Jul, 2024

Depressed teenager sitting lonely outdoors

Loneliness after covid lockdowns blamed for spike in youth mental health referrals

National youth mental health centre Jigsaw saw a 6% rise in referrals last year, with almost 9,000 young people attending therapy at 14 centres, and a further 2,000 using online services

Tue, 02 Jul, 2024

Mother and son doing a psychotherapy

Colman Noctor: Mental health services need urgent large-scale investment

Former colleagues working in Irish mental health services and Camhs appear to be at breaking point

Tue, 02 Jul, 2024

Devastated millennial man crying sad feeling hurt and hopeless suffering Depression. Depressed teenager victim of bullying or ab

Here are five ways that loneliness might be negatively impacting your health

Sometimes you can also feel isolated when you’re around people

Mon, 17 Jun, 2024

Cell phone break up

Colman Noctor: I have never heard so many young people complain of loneliness

When I was a child, we had visitors calling to our house most nights unannounced... now we don’t have visitors or visit others without at least a week’s notice

Tue, 11 Jun, 2024

Terry Prone: RTÉ's 2FM exodus is understandable. It can rebuild if it learns from its past

S Terry Prone: RTÉ's 2FM exodus is understandable. It can rebuild if it learns from its past

The exodus is understandable from the point of view of those leaving. But 2FM can rebuild if it learns from its past and hires people who understand broadcasting, and are hungry to do it

Mon, 27 May, 2024

The lonely reality of becoming a mother

The lonely reality of becoming a mother

Loneliness is a common experience for women during late pregnancy and the busy months after the baby arrives

Sun, 26 May, 2024

Silhouette of retired man looking through window with transparent curtain

Mick Clifford: Why are people dying alone and undiscovered?

Human remains being discovered months or years after a death in their own home point to profound issues with loneliness in our society that need to be addressed

Sun, 26 May, 2024

Cork v Limerick - Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3

S Jennifer Horgan: Hurling gives my dad pure joy — the GAA must not take that away

The GAA must make their technology easier to use for vulnerable people, and carefully consider the games put behind the paywall

Fri, 17 May, 2024

Growing Pains podcast: Colman Noctor on the loneliness epidemic among teenagers

Growing Pains podcast: Colman Noctor on the loneliness epidemic among teenagers

Colman Noctor advises parents how they can help children develop friendships

Listen | Tue, 07 May, 2024

Letters to the Editor: ‘That They May Face the Rising Sun’ is a movie masterpiece

Letters to the Editor: ‘That They May Face the Rising Sun’ is a movie masterpiece

One reader writes in praise of the film adaptation of John McGahern's final novel, while others consider a range of issues including climate change and mental health

Thu, 02 May, 2024

Beautiful little girl, influencer holding mobile phone, taking selfie, recording video, social media

Colman Noctor: Preteens too young to manage smartphone responsibility

School voluntary codes are just the start of the process of managing our children’s relationship with smart devices

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

Growing Pains podcast returns with expert advice for parents on friendships, exam stress and more

Growing Pains podcast returns with expert advice for parents on friendships, exam stress and more

From childhood anxiety to teenage friendships, our experts have it covered. Listen to the first episode now

Listen | Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

door with hearts coming out

How to begin dating again after being a solo parent for a long time

'No more disaster dates, Tinder or Bumble. Someday, I hope for a meeting of minds, who knows, he may be around the next corner.'

Mon, 15 Apr, 2024

Lonely Senior Old Man Sitting on Bench in Park

S Gareth O'Callaghan: Why do the twilight years often feel like a prison?

Older people were once regarded as wiser, because of decades of life experience. They were celebrated, supported, and — most of all — loved. That no longer seems to be the case

Sat, 06 Apr, 2024

Social media use is a public health risk, warn medics

Social media use is a public health risk, warn medics

Excessive use leads to 'greater levels of negative wellbeing'

Fri, 05 Apr, 2024

Beautiful modern woman hugging baby, concept of pregnancy and motherhood, vector illustration for doula, obstetrics, doctor. Mod

'I didn’t recognise myself anymore': The truth about the loneliness of motherhood

The stereotype tells us we should ease naturally into motherhood, but for some it can be the loneliest time of their lives. Disha Bose tells her story

Sat, 09 Mar, 2024

Sam Boland: Time for men to listen to women, and learn from them

Sam Boland: Time for men to listen to women, and learn from them

Amid a new global gender divide, men could mark International Women’s Day by taking responsibility for the way they behave

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Coffin in morque

'None of us got to say goodbye': Covid-19 changed way people feel about death

A survey commissioned by the Irish Hospice Foundation explored the impact of covid-19 on perceptions of death during the pandemic

Tue, 27 Feb, 2024

Group of Teenage Friends

Colman Noctor: Hangout spaces for teens are vital

We cannot make disparaging remarks about young people and their obsession with screens if we do not offer them an alternative.

Tue, 20 Feb, 2024

Man stands alone at party. Lonely in crowd.

Why do so many young men struggle with loneliness and isolation?

When actor Barry Keoghan recently spoke about feeling lonely, it struck a nerve. Is our 'strong and silent' male culture leaving young men more vulnerable to feeling isolated?

Fri, 16 Feb, 2024

Senior woman indoors looking upset and bored

Talk to Me: I'm grieving the death of my husband

Psychologist Caroline Martin is here to answer your questions on whatever issues you are dealing with in life, from work pressure and stress to loneliness and grief

Fri, 02 Feb, 2024

Mother with baby on her hands standing at the window, rear view

S ‘No one warns you the joy of motherhood can be accompanied by such loneliness’

Loneliness within the noisy bubble of parenthood isn’t uncommon. This time of year in particular it can feel like the walls are closing in a little

Mon, 22 Jan, 2024

Dear Dáithí: My daughter didn't go to a sleepover and is now being left out of her friend group

S Dear Dáithí: 'I’m 61, and I have no one I would call a friend. I hate feeling this lonely'

'You have worked hard all your life making sure everyone else was taken care of, this is your time now, but it's all in your hands, it's up to you to change things'

Mon, 22 Jan, 2024

Workplace Wellbeing: Building bonds to overcome loneliness

Workplace Wellbeing: Building bonds to overcome loneliness

Good social connections at work can ease feelings of isolation. Employers can do much by developing group-based activities, but employees need to take action too

Fri, 19 Jan, 2024

Eternals - UK Gala Screening

Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan says he feels massive loneliness

Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan has spoken of feeling “massive loneliness” while his career continues to reach new heights.

Tue, 09 Jan, 2024

Volunteers standing hands

The loneliest country in Europe must not take its community supports for granted

The State takes the voluntary sector for granted when it comes to community and social cohesion, writes Ivan Cooper

Tue, 09 Jan, 2024

Happy friends

Long distance: Navigating and keeping friendships alive around the world

Conor Brummell moved from Ireland to Belgium shortly after graduation and continues to stay in touch with his friends even as they hopscotch around the world

Fri, 08 Dec, 2023

Portrait of worried girl looking through the window at home

Joanna Fortune: My autistic daughter is being excluded by friends

"We all need friends in our lives, even though it might be challenging to find people who understand you, enjoy being with you and with whom you feel a genuine connection."

Wed, 22 Nov, 2023

Where to from here?

Talk To Me: I'm in my 70s and I feel like I've been cast aside by my adult sons

Psychologist Caroline Martin is here to answer your questions on whatever issues you are dealing with in life, from work pressure and stress to loneliness and grief

Fri, 17 Nov, 2023

The problem of getting used to school for a child who has just started primary school.

Colman Noctor: Critical need for autistic children to build friendships

"Many children and young people I see report strong feelings of loneliness and disconnection. They tell me about feeling ‘different’, ‘misunderstood’ and ‘alone’."

Tue, 31 Oct, 2023

Distraught businesswoman using laptop

Talk To Me: My daughter has decided to make France her home

Psychologist Caroline Martin is here to answer your questions on whatever issues you are dealing with in life, from work pressure and stress to loneliness and grief

Fri, 27 Oct, 2023

Loneliness Teenage Girls

Loneliness Taskforce condemns Government for lack of action

The taskforce is a coalition of organisations and individuals including ALONE, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Disability Federation of Ireland, and Family Carers Ireland.

Mon, 18 Sep, 2023

Loneliness Teenage Girls

Loneliness not always a negative experience for young adults, research shows

The study shows that loneliness can be particularly varied and related to development during this life stage

Wed, 23 Aug, 2023

Summer weather June 17th

Being lonely ‘may increase risk of heart disease in diabetes patients’

Being lonely may the increase risk of heart disease in diabetes patients, research suggests.

Fri, 30 Jun, 2023

Pandemic anxiety 'hangover' affecting older people, study finds

Pandemic anxiety 'hangover' affecting older people, study finds

Levels of depression and loneliness have only partially recovered from what was recorded during the covid pandemic, The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing found.

Thu, 01 Jun, 2023

Black silhouette of teenage girl

Covid-19 pandemic sparks rise in severe loneliness and social isolation

A major study of over 20,000 people in 100 countries found the pandemic sparked a major rise in loneliness

Wed, 10 Nov, 2021

Contemplation

Joyce Fegan: How do you count the cost of loneliness?

"The cost of loneliness may well be unquantifiable but its impact will be far reaching. If you're looking for it - psychologists say it lands in the chest and sits there like an ache"

Sat, 14 Aug, 2021

Thoughtful girl sitting on sill embracing knees looking at window

Alone again: The epidemic we cannot afford to ignore

Writer and Economist Noreena Hertz on the dangers of loneliness, technology, and the importance of feeling connected even during lockdown

Sat, 24 Oct, 2020