Debate contribution: Loneliness Strategy

Debate contribution by Ms Sinéad McLaughlin on 29 April 2024.

MLA

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

29 April 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Loneliness Strategy

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4486522

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you to Robbie Butler and others on the all-party group for tabling the motion. Loneliness is a huge problem in communities across Northern Ireland. Far too often, it gets swept under the carpet. It is right that we give time in the Assembly to discuss that hidden crisis. Of course, we can all expect to be lonely at some point in our lives, but persistent and chronic loneliness and, indeed, social isolation are issues that the Executive must face up to. The scale of the problem will be a concern to all of us. The fact that one in 20 people have been identified as chronically lonely is hugely worrying. In my council area, it is a matter of real concern that over 22% of people reported feeling lonely at some point. We should be equally concerned by the inequalities in whom loneliness affects the most. We know that older people experience a higher level of loneliness than younger people, and the figures are really stark. Age NI has highlighted that one in four older people over the age of 75 described feeling lonely some, most or all of the time. Perhaps one of the starkest differences, however, is between the level of loneliness experienced by people in the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland, where almost 28% reported feeling lonely at least some of the time, and the level of loneliness experienced by people in the less deprived areas, where the figure was just 14%. We need to recognise that disparity in the conversation that we have today. There is a loneliness penalty for some of our poorest communities, and we simply cannot afford to stand over that any longer. As the motion rightly highlights, it is an increasing public health issue. I was really struck, as were many Members who spoke today, by the statistic that chronic loneliness can be just as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Not only is social isolation associated with faster rates of cognitive decline but it increases cardiovascular problems; indeed, it increases the risk of early death by up to 26%. Clearly, that costs us in public health outcomes, but it also costs our public purse. Every day, a GP sees between one and five people because they are lonely. Of course, lonely periods in someone's life can often take place at a time of transition, such as when you become a new parent. When people are faced with those challenges, the interventions made by community organisations are really vital, more than ever, in addressing that loneliness. I think particularly of an organisation in Foyle called Minding Mum, which brings together new mums. They go out walking with their babies on a Wednesday morning. It is about getting the mums out and letting them talk to one another as they experience the absolute new love that they have for their baby but also the loneliness and other experiences.

Absolutely, Mr Butler. We are losing that person-to-person connectivity. I have recently become a grandmother, and I have seen how lonely it can be for some mums. It is a really challenging time, and it is lonely for many. Many of us are lucky to have big family circles, but others are not. I think in particular of our new citizens — our immigrant community — who do not have that family support. The Minding Mum project in Derry helps to support those families.

I totally agree with the Member. Sometimes, things are convenient but not conducive to one-to-one engagement with people. I also think of U3A, another group in Derry that helps hundreds of people every year to have a fulfilling and active lifestyle in older age. There is also a wonderful cafe in Derry called "Claude's" that runs a Thursday club that men can drop into for a chat and come together in support and friendship. Those are all really important organisations, but they are no substitute for government action and intervention. The time is right for a cross-departmental loneliness strategy. Clearly, good work is taking place across the Departments, but it is without a strategic focus. I fear that, as with so many other things in this place, we can expect chronic loneliness —

— to be a fact of life for many years to come.

720 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:20 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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