Research has found that England has a very serious loneliness problem. A 2017 report from the Jo Cox Commission on loneliness found that more than 9 million people in Britain often or always feel lonely. This information prompted Prime Minister Theresa May to appoint a Minister to deal with the loneliness:
“For far too many people, loneliness is the sad reality of modern life. I want to confront this challenge for our society and for all of us to take action to address the loneliness endured by the elderly, by carers, by those who have lost loved ones — people who have no one to talk to or share their thoughts and experiences with.”
“It’s proven to be worse for health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day, but it can be overcome and needn’t be a factor in older people’s lives."
Tracey Crouch, who is the under secretary for sport and civil society in the culture ministry, will lead a governmentwide group to figure out policies on the issue of loneliness.
Research conducted by the British government found that about 200,000 older people in the country have not had a conversation with a relative or a friend in over a month.