We all feel lonely at times, it's a natural human emotion. As people, we seek human contact, and feeling lonely is a signal that we need more of it. We might also feel that the quantity or quality of our relationships with the people around us are not as good as we'd like them to be.
It might surprise you to know that it's more likely to be young people aged 16 to 24 who feel lonely now, not older people, as we often think. Recent research has shown that older people are more likely to develop ways of coping with loneliness as their life circumstances change.
The effects of long-term loneliness on your health can be as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. If you've been feeling lonely for a long time, it's always worth speaking to your GP to make sure you're getting the right support.
We've listed lots of useful information below to help if you're feeling lonely.