Disconnected Britain: Why the UK Ranked 70/71 in Global Mental Wellbeing

Loneliness is often described as a silent epidemic, but in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on our society has become undeniable. The Global Mind Project, the world’s largest study on population mental wellbeing, highlighted just how deeply loneliness has eroded the social bonds in the UK. Ranking 70th out of 71 countries, the UK’s struggle with loneliness isn’t just a social issue, it’s a public health crisis.

Initiated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Global Mind Project aimed to explore how societal shifts from lockdowns and economic pressures to growing digital reliance have all had an impact on global mental wellbeing. One of the starkest findings for the UK was the significant erosion of social bonds leading to feelings of loneliness. The UK’s low ranking was attributed to factors like poor life satisfaction, emotional distress, and a lack of social connection, core contributors to declining mental wellbeing. Only Uzbekistan ranked lower.[1]

Interestingly, countries that ranked highest included the Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania; nations not typically associated with high GDP but where community, purpose, and belonging remain deeply embedded in the social fabric. The contrast raises questions about what truly supports mental wellbeing on a national scale. But why does loneliness matter so much?

In a world where technology enables us to connect more than ever, this paradox is hard to ignore. Recent surveys indicate that in 2022, a staggering 49.63% of adults in the UK, totalling 25.99 million individuals, reported feeling lonely either occasionally, frequently, or constantly [2]. What's often underestimated is the detrimental impact of loneliness and social isolation on our overall health. Groundbreaking research by Naomi Eisenberger and her team demonstrated that even short-term experiences of social exclusion ignite our physical stress and fear responses, emphasising the deep need for belonging for our mental wellbeing, emotional health, and physical health too [3].

How Loneliness Affects Physical Health

Loneliness and social isolation can impact both our physiology and psychology. They influence behaviour, reduce our capacity for everyday tasks, and undermine our health in ways that rival some of the most pressing national health crises. Here are some surprising statistics:

Physical Health Impacts

• Comparable to national health crises: The effect of loneliness and isolation on mortality is comparable to obesity and cigarette smoking[6].

• Linked to premature death: Loneliness can increase the risk of early mortality by 26%[7].

• Major health risks: It’s associated with acute stress responses[8], increased risk of high blood pressure[9], and reduced immunity against infections[10].

• Increased risk of major heart events: Loneliness is linked to a 29% increase in coronary heart disease and a 32% increase in stroke [11].

• A risk factor for type 2 diabetes: One study found that loneliness was associated with double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes[12][13].

• Disrupted sleep: Loneliness is associated with poorer sleep quality[14], a foundational need for both mental and physical health.
  

Mental Health Impacts

• Risk factor for common mental health conditions: Including depression and anxiety[15].

• Higher suicide risk: Loneliness is predictive of suicide, particularly in older adults[16].

• Reduced cognitive functioning: Linked to poorer cognitive funct

  ion[17].

• Cognitive decline: Increases the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults[18][19].

Why Social Connection Matters

Social connectedness refers to the sense of belonging and support through meaningful relationships. Those who experience strong social connection benefit from:

• Reduced stress levels and improved sleep

• Better overall health and longevity

• Healthy lifestyle choices

• Greater life satisfaction and sense of purpose
  

This isn't just a wellbeing extra—it’s a necessity. Meaningful social connections drive our long-term health and our ability to engage in community life.

Cost Savings to Health Services

Supporting human connection isn’t just good for people—it’s smart policy. Evidence shows that reducing loneliness can ease pressure on overwhelmed health systems by:

• Lowering GP contacts, emergency treatments, and hospital admissions[20]

• Reducing the likelihood of older adults needing emergency care or frequent GP visits[21]

• Decreasing long-term mental health expenditure[22]

More Than Therapy: Tackling Loneliness in Our Local Town

We don’t just deliver counselling in Yeovil and Mental Health First Aid training in Bristol and across the UK. We believe workplace wellbeing courses and therapy alone aren’t enough. Real impact comes from reinvesting in the community. That’s why we use surplus profits to help address social issues, like loneliness.

One example? Our Chatty Café in Yeovil. Hosted at Barolo Lounge, where the first hot drink is covered by the amazing team there, and we provide a member of our therapeutic team, not to offer therapy, but to guarantee a warm, safe, welcoming space for meaningful human connection. A space where you can sit, talk, and feel seen. We want to do more of this. If you’re interested in learning how investing in therapy in Yeovil or booking MHFA training in Somerset (or anywhere we travel) can create social value beyond the workplace, get in touch. To find out more about our social impact, check out what you help make possible when you invest in wellbeing for you or your teams- find out more.

References

1. Sapien Labs. Mental State of the World Report 2024. Retrieved from: https://sapienlabs.org/global-mind-project/mental-state-of-the-world-2024-report

2. Campaign to End Loneliness. The State of Loneliness 2023: ONS Data on loneliness in Britain (2023).

3. Eisenberger NI. The neural bases of social pain: evidence for shared representations with physical pain. Psychosom Med. 2012 Feb-Mar;74(2):126–35. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3182464dd1. Epub 2012 Jan 27. PMID: 22286852; PMCID: PMC3273616.

4. Shankar A, et al. Social isolation and loneliness: Prospective associations with functional status in older adults. Health Psychology 36.2 (2017): 179–187.

5. Wootton R, et al. Bidirectional effects between loneliness, smoking and alcohol use. Addiction 116.2 (2020): 400–406.

6. DiMatteo MR. Social Support and Patient Adherence to Medical Treatment: A Meta-Analysis. Health Psychology 23.2 (2004): 207–218.

7. Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB. Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. PLoS Medicine 7.7 (2010).

8. Holt-Lunstad J, et al. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science 10.2 (2015): 227–237.

9. Brown EG, Gallagher S, Creaven AM. Loneliness and acute stress reactivity: A systematic review of psychophysiological studies. Psychophysiology 55.5 (2018).

10. Hawkley LC, et al. Loneliness predicts increased blood pressure: 5-year cross-lagged analyses in middle-aged and older adults. Psychology and Aging 25.1 (2010): 132.

11. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, et al. Psychosocial modifiers of immunocompetence in medical students. Psychosom Med 46 (1984): 7–14.

12. Valtorta NK, et al. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies. Heart 102 (2016): 1009–1016.

13. Hackett RA, Hudson JL, Chilcot J. Loneliness and type 2 diabetes incidence: findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Diabetologia 63.11 (2020): 2329–2338.

14. Henriksen RE, Nilsen TS, Strandberg RB. Loneliness increases the risk of type 2 diabetes: a 20-year follow-up – results from the HUNT study. Diabetologia 66 (2023): 82–92.

15. Cacioppo JT, et al. Loneliness and health: Potential mechanisms. Psychosomatic Medicine 64.3 (2002): 407–417.

16. NHS Digital. Health Survey for England, 2021, Part 2: Loneliness and wellbeing (2023).

17. O’Connell H, Chin AV, Cunningham C, Lawlor BA. Recent developments: suicide in older people. BMJ 329.7471 (2004): 895–899.

18. Cacioppo S, Cacioppo JT. Older adults reporting social isolation or loneliness show poorer cognitive function 4 years later. Evidence-Based Nursing 17.2 (2014): 59–60.

19. Luchetti M, et al. Loneliness is associated with risk of cognitive impairment in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Geriatric Psychiatry 35.7 (2020): 794–801.

20. Global Council on Brain Health. The brain and social connectedness: GCBH recommendations on social engagement and brain health (2017). Retrieved from: www.GlobalCouncilOnBrainHealth.org

21. Christiansen J, et al. Loneliness, social isolation, and healthcare utilization in the general population. Health Psychology 42.2 (2023): 63–72.

22. Meisters R, et al. Does Loneliness Have a Cost? A Population-Wide Study of the Association Between Loneliness and Healthcare Expenditure. International Journal of Public Health 66 (2021).