Targeting Isolation and Loneliness Together

Welcome to Tackling Loneliness and Isolation Together (TILT)

The Newry, Mourne and Down Community Planning Partnership have come together to develop an approach to help tackle loneliness and isolation within our community. The aim is to answer the questions you may have around loneliness and isolation and to help guide you to activities or learning that may assist you or a loved one to understand and navigate the many support options available.

The contents of this page will be updated and reviewed regularly.

What is Loneliness and Social Isolation?

Loneliness is a normal human emotion which people may experience at some stage in their life.

There is now strong evidence to suggest that a lack of social relationships and long-term loneliness affect health. One in three people in Northern Ireland feel they are lonelier than not.

Did You Know?

There is now strong evidence to suggest that a lack of social relationships and long-term loneliness affect health. One in three people in Northern Ireland feel they are lonelier than not.

The health risks are equivalent to or higher than those associated with obesity, smoking, air pollution, and physical inactivity.

Although loneliness is not a mental health problem, it can have an adverse effect on one's physical and emotional well-being, which can get worse if neglected. Being alone can raise your chances of poor mental health, coronary heart disease, cognitive decline, anxiety, progression of frailty, stroke, early mortality, acute stress response, poor sleep quality, high blood pressure, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Social isolation is the lack of social contacts and having few people to interact with regularly.

Loneliness is often linked to social isolation; however, they are each quite different. Social isolation is objective. It describes the quantity of social connections and relationships that someone has. Loneliness is more about how a person feels and it is therefore more difficult to measure.

If you are, or someone you know, is lonely or isolated and want to make a change, there is support available to help here.