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

Former Waterford mayor Joe Conway said SpunOut statement is 'an immensely depressing handle to throw on the youth of Ireland'

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

Research highlighting high rates of loneliness among young people was questioned as having "a dimension of snowflake syndrome" by a senator at the Oireachtas education committee.

The committee met on Wednesday to hear from representatives from a number of different organisations regarding the implementation of the National Youth Strategy. 

Youth work services have suffered from a lack of sufficient government investment, the committee heard. 

In her opening statement to the committee, SpunOut chief executive Sinéad Keane referred to research published in 2023 that found Ireland is the loneliest country in the EU.

Ms Keane referenced the research in relation to a decline of ‘third spaces’ where young people can socialise and congregate for free in a safe environment.

“These spaces, distinct from home and school, are vital to youth development,” Ms Keane said.

“The loss of third spaces is especially keenly felt in isolated or disadvantaged communities where further services or social spaces may no longer be available.”

Responding to Senator Conway, SpunOut CEO Sinéad Keane offered to provide him with the survey. See links below including a direct link to the 2023 EU-wide study and analysis of it published by the Irish Examiner. Picture: SpunOut

Later in the committee, Independent senator Joe Conway questioned the statement “that Ireland is the loneliest place for youth in Europe”.

“Where do you get the statistical basis to make that claim?” 

Ms Keane offered to provide him with the survey, adding that there is also a growing body of research in this area.

“At SpunOut, we operate a 24-hour crisis text line, and we have had over 45,000 young people contact us to date this year. 

"Unfortunately, for one in five of them, loneliness is one of the top issues they are experiencing.

“We’re seeing a real tip from where we would have traditionally talked about the elderly population experiencing loneliness, now we are seeing young people experiencing higher levels of loneliness and isolation.” 

“Isn’t it very subjective though, Sinéad,” Mr Conway replied. “A lot of these things, human conditions, are self-descriptive. One 15-year-old describing themselves as being lonely might be a completely different presentation. Isn’t it very difficult to get an umbrella term like loneliness?” 

He added he believes it is an “immensely depressing handle to throw on the youth of Ireland”.

Mary Cunningham, the chief executive of the National Youth Council of Ireland, told Mr Conway “that is how young people are feeling, and as professionals we need to be taking that seriously.” 

Ms Keane added that research carried out by SpunOut shows that persistent loneliness in young people is often accompanied by stress and sadness.

“There’s a whole variety of other mental health challenges that come with it hand-in-hand.” 

Mr Conway responded: “You don’t think there’s a dimension of 'snowflake syndrome' coming in there, where people are describing themselves as lonely and neglected, whereas that mightn’t be what’s at issue at all?” 

Ms Keane responded that she believes it's important to listen to young people, and that many different sources indicate that’s how young people are feeling.

“As a youth organisation, we very much believe in the power of youth voice and believe what young people are telling us.”

• Here is a direct link to an EU-wide study of loneliness, previously cited in the 'Irish Examiner', in which 20% of people surveyed in Ireland said they felt lonely most, or all of the time, over the past four weeks — the highest percentage across all EU states.