Summary of biological, psychological and behavioural impacts of loneliness Biological Increased illness Worsening symptoms Low energy Stress, Anxiety Insomnia Mood disorders Hypervigilance Over/under eating IDENTITY CRISIS Low confidence Disengagement Negative emotions Self-isolation thoughts and beliefs Stop Poor work/ Weak ‘coping’ skills planning hobby performance Suicidality Social Poor hygiene skills Reduced exercise Psychological Behavioural Amidst the complex and interlinked impacts What is the support landscape like of loneliness is, for many, an identity crisis. for loneliness in the UK? The combination of biological, psychological and social impacts exacerbates existing While the research suggests that there are some disconnection: how can you connect when areas of good practice, like using digital forums to you feel lost, unwell and when you’ve isolated complement other forms of support, participants yourself? Getting to the point of identity crisis was and experts were generally critical of the current particularly characteristic of the chronically lonely support landscape. and seen by these participants as a negative and For participants and experts alike, lack of challenging reality to be living. For more details on awareness about available services and support what is it like to be lonely in the UK, see Chapter 4.for people experiencing loneliness was a key barrier to tackling loneliness. Existing support was viewed as prioritising older groups and sometimes overlooking others, at times urgent, support needs. Participants also felt well-meaning, but potentially damaging, one-off interventions stemmed from some providers’ difficulties sustaining a service. Individuals experiencing loneliness perceived a lack of informal support, where they could access less-intensive and more casual opportunities for establishing connections within their communities. For more details on the current support landscape, see Chapter 5. Executive summary 8