Loneliness is said to be a ‘silent epidemic’ sweeping the world, and posing a global health threat, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Global State of Connections 2023 report states that at least 1.25 billion people have either felt ‘lonely’ or ‘very lonely’, while the WHO estimates that at least 10% of adolescents and 25% of older people are lonely.
According to the renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow, humans have an innate need for love and a feeling of belonging. Loneliness is an emotional state typically defined by painful feelings associated with isolation or a lack of social contact or belonging.
