Social Isolation and Loneliness
Headlines
Let's get started
Social isolation and loneliness are now seen as major health problems. Whilst they are often used interchangeably, they are distinct concepts: social isolation refers to a lack of social contact, whereas loneliness describes a subjective feeling of being alone.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), loneliness affects 1 in 6 people worldwide and causes approximately 870,000 deaths per year. The main drivers of social isolation and loneliness include weak community infrastructure, poor health, unhealthy use of digital technology, and life transitions.
National Priorities
In 2018, the UK government published the world's first strategy for tackling loneliness: A Connected Society: A strategy for tackling loneliness. The strategy's approach to tackling loneliness in England has three overarching objectives:
Reduce stigma by building the national conversation on loneliness, so that people feel able to talk about loneliness and reach out for help.
Drive a lasting shift so that relationships and loneliness are considered in policy-making and delivery by organisations across society, supporting and amplifying the impact of organisations that are connecting people.
Play our part in improving the evidence base on loneliness, making a compelling case for action, and ensuring everyone has information they need to make informed decisions through challenging times.
Local Priorities
Stockton-on-Tees Council Plan 2024-2028
Success looks like:
Our residents feeling like they belong to their community.
Priority Two: Healthy and Resilient Communities - Building safe and connected communities
We will support residents to be safe and connected to each other in their homes and communities.
Through our Communities Mission, we will empower communities and increase individual, family and community level activities.
We will work with communities to tackle the contributing causes to social isolation and loneliness and encouraging and facilitating more ways to connect within the community, whilst providing support for people at greatest risk and promoting good mental wellbeing.
To ensure communities are better connected, we are working with transport partners to ensure that the Tees Valley Strategic Transport Plan support social equity through good connectivity across all modes of travel, and promotes safety and security for all.
Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030
Focus Area 3: Social Isolation and Loneliness
- We will work together with communities to tackle the contributing causes, encourage and facilitate more ways to connect within the community, as well as providing support for people at greatest risk or impacted.
What we know
Other factors that have an impact
Social isolation and loneliness arise from a complicated mix of personal, social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors.
Health-related factors
Poor physical health and mobility issues limit social participation and often increase anxiety associated with going out.
Chronic illness, bereavement, and mental health conditions can make feeling of loneliness worse.
Loneliness is not typically a primary presenting issue in clinical settings, making identification harder.
Digital Exclusion
Lack of awareness of where to seek support or make social connections, especially for those who have limited digital skills.
Those who rely on in-person communication may struggle to engage with digitally promoted services.
Social and Economic Factors
Transport costs are a barrier to accessing community venues.
95% of Stockon-on-Tees businesses are micro or small enterprises, where employees often feel lonely and/or isolated due to the nature of their work.
Low-income households may lack the resources to participate in social or leisure activities.
Workplace and Occupational Factors
Individuals working alone or in dispersed environments may not have daily opportunities for meaningful social contact.
Those in unstable or shift-based employment face barriers to accessing services offered within traditional working hours.
Communication Barriers
Approximately 90% of people who attend Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB) struggle with literacy, making traditional written communication ineffective.
Culturally, literal translated documents into different languages can be confusing and miscommunicate intended messages.
Messages can often contain too much "jargon".
Individuals may feel embarrassed to admit feelings of loneliness.
Perceptions that services are "not for them" (e.g., young people avoiding CAB as too "corporate").
Stigma and Personal Barriers
Who is most affected and why?
Social isolation and loneliness can affect people of all ages and backgrounds, however, several groups are at higher risk, including:
Older people
Children and young people
People with disabilities or long-term conditions
Unpaid carers
People experiencing trauma or vulnerability including bereavement
Socio-economically disadvantaged groups
What do the people of Stockton-on-Tees need?
Local consultation, community insights and system-wide discussions have identified key needs to address social isolation and loneliness.
Accessible, joined up support
A full map of existing services to strengthen referral pathways and prevent duplication.
Improved awareness of local activities, especially for digitally excluded residents.
Broader range of support options beyond groups sessions e.g., one-to-one support, telephone support.
Trauma-informed, person-centred approaches
Sensitivity to the experiences of vulnerable individuals.
Inclusive communication
Plain English resources and materials with clear definitions of social isolation, and loneliness.
Accessible formats for those with literacy challenges.
Culturally appropriate communications for diverse groups.
Strengthened community infrastructure
Activities available outside of traditional working hours.
Improved joined up and integrated support.
Improved identification of social isolation and loneliness in health and care settings
Better use of MECC (Make Every Contact Count) and Social Prescribing within NHS settings, including primary and urgent care.
Strengthened pathways between health services and community provision.
What this means and what we are doing
Addressing social isolation and loneliness requires a whole-system approach involving multi-agency partners such as the Local Authority, NHS, and voluntary sector. Partners from across the Borough have set up a Social Isolation and Loneliness Working Group that has oversight, strategic direction, ad coordination of activities to help reduce the impact of social isolation and loneliness.
There is already some excellent work happening across the Borough to tackle social isolation and loneliness, for example:
Community Spaces Scheme
Warm Welcome Social Sessions
Activity Co-ordinator Network
Red Balloons Walk & Talk Groups
Stockton-on-Tees Adults Carers' Support Service and Eastern Ravens Trust
Phone check-in service (led by Catalyst and Toob)
"Thanks to the previous Community Spaces funding, we have been able to extend the Vine Café to two sessions per week. This has allowed more members of the community to access out welcoming, inclusive space, particularly those who may be experiencing social isolation and loneliness. The additional sessions have provided greater flexibility for people with different schedules and increased capacity to host volunteers, pop-up session with local organisations, and intergenerational activities. As a result, the funding has directly supported stronger community connections, increased participation, ad a greater sense of belonging among attendees" - Teesside Vineyard Church
We know that there is still a lot of work to be done! For example, engaging with at-risk groups is a priority for the working group, as well are raising awareness of social isolation and loneliness among residents and colleagues across the health and social care sector. We also know that we need to improve how we work together, and the creation of the Working Group was the first step to better integrated working.
