Viva Vitality: Reduce loneliness to improve health

By Amanda Poll on January 31, 2025.

Loneliness is the feeling of being isolated or alone. It comes from a gap in relationships you have and the ones you need or want. Loneliness isn’t always about time spent with other people. For example, a person may be married and have a family and still feel lonely. Another person might spend a lot of time alone and not feel lonely at all.

Loneliness doesn’t feel the same for everyone. Some call it an ache while others describe it as feeling empty or sad, or disconnected or misunderstood. You may feel like you don’t fit in or that people don’t ‘get’ you. And if you’re feeling lonely, you might also be feeling depressed or anxious.

People are more likely to feel lonely if they live alone, lack a daily companion, have health problems, have few social connections in their community, are unemployed, work from home, or work in a place where most communication is electronic.

Loneliness can cause negative health effects and higher amounts of stress hormones. It can make it hard to sleep, think clearly and avoid illness. It can also make it hard to take care of your health. Prolonged loneliness can put you as risk of health conditions like depression, heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and dementia.

There are many ways to connect with people, but it’s still easy to feel lonely. It might seem overwhelming to think about ways to be social or make more meaningful connections yet even small steps can make a big difference!

Here are some ideas you can try to feel more connected and less lonely:

Help someone. Even helping just one person one time is a way to connect. Try helping a neighbor with groceries, or volunteer with an organization you’re interested in that has needs you can help with.

Think about getting a pet. If you can care for one, a pet can be a great friend. Even if you don’t have the type of pet that goes outside, they’ll still be there to keep you company. Having pets can also be an easy way to relate to and connect with other people.

Take care of the relationships you already have. Reach out to people you already know. Try calling a supportive friend or family member you haven’t talked to in a while. It doesn’t have to be a long call; just reaching out can keep those connections strong.

Hobbies can create new connections. Many communities have meet-up groups organized around activities and interests. You may find groups of hikers, caregivers, gamers, or those who just like drinking coffee. This can be a great way to help people and meet others who share your interests.

Consider talking to a counsellor or other mental health professional. It can be scary to think about putting yourself ‘out there’ in social situations. It can be hard to make changes in your habits or thinking on your own. In some cases, loneliness may be part of a mental health condition such as depression. If you feel like you need some support getting started, or if loneliness is making it hard for you to go about your day, a counselor can help.

Amanda Poll is a Health Promotion Facilitator with Alberta Health Services’ Population Health Promotion program. For more information on how to improve your health and wellness, visit MyHealthAlberta.ca.

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