Loneliness and social isolation

Our 2018 report on loneliness and social isolation explores the causes, triggers and barriers to support for the Armed Forces community.

This follows our 2014 Household Survey that found that 370,000 older veterans reported being lonely, and over twice that number reported experiencing some relationship or isolation difficulty – equivalent to around 770,000 people. 

Key findings

• 1 in 4 of survey respondents indicated that they feel lonely and socially isolated ‘Always’ or ‘Often’
• Almost 70% agreed that loneliness and social isolation are issues in the Armed Forces community
• Moving to a new area was the most common cause of social isolation amongst survey respondents
• Exiting the Armed Forces was the most common cause of both loneliness and social isolation

Findings from this research suggest that some elements of Forces lifestyle can increase vulnerability to loneliness and social isolation. These include:

• Increased volume of transitions in the Forces
• A culture of self-reliance and avoidance of ‘weakness’
• Long periods of separation from partner and family
• Impact of injury and/or sudden discharge on career and family