Posed photograph.
The government must address loneliness in the upcoming budget as figures suggest Ireland now has the highest rate of loneliness in the European Union, according to the Loneliness Taskforce.
The Taskforce, established in 2018, is calling on the Government to commit to targets in Budget 2025 to address the epidemic.
Members of the force have reported tackling the effects of loneliness in their every day services.
Member organisations of the Taskforce report that loneliness is a growing health and social issue which poses a significant problem for their service users, who come from all age groups and backgrounds. Loneliness has also been linked to the wish to die among older adults.
The State of Caring 2024 survey showed that almost half of carers experience severe loneliness.
Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy at Family Carers Ireland, states that carers are particularly vulnerable to loneliness: “Family carers face heightened risks of loneliness due to the demands of caregiving. These responsibilities can limit opportunities for social engagement, while the financial burdens associated with caring often render social activities unaffordable.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has established a Commission on Social Connection which aims to see the issue recognised and resourced as a global public health priority.
Previous Government commitments to combat loneliness are included in the ‘Roadmap for Social Inclusion’, and the ‘Healthy Ireland Strategic Plan’. Several political parties committed to tackle loneliness as part of their recent local election manifestos.
In a Seanad motion earlier this year, the Green Party noted that they wanted every local authority to “prepare a local strategy to combat loneliness through the use of libraries, public buildings, sports partnerships and public participation networks”.
A growing number of voluntary and private organisations, among them Men’s Sheds (menssheds.ie) and, more recently, Women’s Sheds, have been created to bring together people who may need a boost socially, for any number of reasons.
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Publish date : 2024-09-26 10:15:00
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