A new YouGov poll commissioned by the suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) has uncovered a stark reality: one in three (33%) 18-24-year-olds in the UK regularly experiences loneliness. The findings, released ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May 2025), highlight a growing sense of isolation among young adults, with 72% of this age group reporting some form of loneliness, compared to 52% of all UK adults

The survey, conducted between 28–31 March 2025 with 2,059 adults, also reveals higher loneliness rates among specific groups: women (57%), full-time students (74%), LGBTQ+ individuals (70%), and those in lower social grades (56%). As this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week focuses on the theme of community, the data underscores the protective role of belonging to a supportive group. Adults who regularly engage with a club or community (39% of respondents) are less likely to feel lonely. Of those who feel they belong to such a group, 63% reported a sense of belonging, 43% noted improved mental health, and 26% received support during tough times. For 18–24-year-olds, club involvement widened friendship circles (55%) and boosted confidence (51%)

Tips for coping with loneliness

To address this crisis, CALM has launched new online resources titled “How to feel a little less alone,” available at The Calm Zone. These offer practical tips for coping with loneliness, including:

• Get outdoors and move your body. Connecting to your environment can make you feel part of something bigger, and physical activity helps clear the mind.
• Stick on the TV or radio. Familiar programmes or podcasts can provide comfort and a sense of community.
• Make plans for the future. Even small goals, like researching an activity, can provide a sense of purpose.
• Try a micro connection. Small gestures, like smiling at a stranger or greeting a taxi driver, can foster a sense of connection.

CALM’s innovative CALM Clubs initiative supports 275 existing clubs across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, covering activities from sports and arts to wellbeing and prison support. These clubs, which range from futsal to cold water immersion groups, can register for free to access CALM’s mental health resources, fostering supportive environments for members. However, 61% of respondents either did not feel they belonged to a group or were unsure, with 35% citing social anxiety as a barrier. Among 25–44-year-olds, 45% reported social anxiety as a key obstacle, while 26% of 18-24-year-olds feared rejection.

CALM ambassadors Joe Marler, a rugby player, and Shirley Ballas, a dance icon, are championing the initiative. Marler said: “Some of the loneliest times of my life have been on the rugby pitch surrounded by tens of thousands of people. A sense of belonging isn’t maths – it’s not about how many people you’re in a room with, it’s about connection and knowing there’s a group you can lean on, laugh with and sometimes cry with. Whether you’re in a club already and want to make sure you’re showing up for your members, or if you haven’t got a clue where to start, CALM, as always, have got your back.”

Ballas added: “Being part of the dance community has not only given me endless joy and opportunities, but also unending support. There is such beauty in connecting with a group of people over a shared passion. I wholeheartedly support the brilliant work CALM is doing to help people in taking their first steps to finding their own communities, as well as equipping those that already exist with potentially life-saving tools. We are facing a loneliness epidemic right now, and this might just be the answer. And I’ll be making it my personal mission to see the first dance group sign up to CALM Clubs this Mental Health Awareness Week!”

CALM’s director of services, Wendy Robinson, said: “CALM’s research shows that you aren’t alone in feeling lonely. When you’re feeling isolated, making that first step to find your community can feel like a mountain to climb. A sense of belonging starts with you, knowing that you’re not alone and there’s support out there to help you find that connection.”

CALM operates a free, anonymous suicide prevention helpline from 5 pm to midnight daily and provides online mental health resources.