National plan needed to combat impact of loneliness - Troy

A local TD has called for the introduction of a national plan to tackle the negative impacts of loneliness and isolation.

Deputy Robert Troy, who has published a policy position paper on issue, says that multi-layered plan is needed to overcome the negative physical and mental health impacts caused by isolation.

The paper comes on the back of research from the 2022 EU Loneliness Survey, conducted by the European Commission. The EU research identified Ireland as the loneliest country in the European Union. The survey found that 20 per cent of Irish respondents reported feeling lonely most or all of the time, the highest percentage among EU member states.

The policy position paper calls for an introduction of a public information campaign to highlight help and resources and loneliness awareness training in the school curriculum.

There is a heavy focus on the role of daycare centres in the document, with the Longford Westmeath TD calling for the establishment of a public database of all active daycare centres in each county and for people to have the ability to self-refer to a daycare centre.

"Research shows loneliness in Ireland is alarmingly prevalent throughout society and that it can significantly impact physical and mental health, quality of life, and even life expectancy," Deputy Troy said.

"In many cases loneliness remains hidden due to the many stigmas and myths surrounding it. The effect of loneliness and social isolation on mortality is now seen as comparable to risks like smoking, obesity, and inactivity. Unlike other health risks, loneliness affects people of all ages and backgrounds. It's a wide-spread issue.

"The government and society has a moral obligation to tackle this issue head-on. We must look at a multi-layered approach to this problem by making this a national policy priority. Our efforts should be inclusive, reaching out to all those who are suffering, regardless of who they are.

"Introducing a national plan could dramatically reduce the loneliness felt by many in our society.

"This plan should be led by a dedicated department but receive input from across all departments – similar to the Climate Action Plan. The plan should look at factors in Irish society that cause isolation, the groups most vulnerable and the knock-on impacts on physical and mental health.

"A comprehensive stakeholder and public engagement consultation should be carried out in advance to inform the plan. It should also look at a ringfenced budget for initiatives that the public and private sector could draw from."