Have you ever been lonely? If so, what have you done to deal with the feeling of being alone?

In “U.K. Appoints a Minister for Loneliness,” Ceylan Yeginsu writes:

Since Britain voted to leave the European Union more than a year ago, Europeans have mockingly said that the decision will result in an isolated, lonely island nation. But Britain, in fact, already has a serious problem with loneliness, research has found. More than nine million people in the country often or always feel lonely, according to a 2017 report published by the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness. The issue prompted Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday to appoint a minister for loneliness. “For far too many people, loneliness is the sad reality of modern life,” Mrs. May said in a statement. “I want to confront this challenge for our society and for all of us to take action to address the loneliness endured by the elderly, by carers, by those who have lost loved ones — people who have no one to talk to or share their thoughts and experiences with.” Mark Robinson, the chief officer of Age UK, Britain’s largest charity working with older people, warned that the problem could kill.

Students: Read the entire article, then tell us:



— Britain is not alone in its loneliness epidemic. The Times has also recently reported on social isolation in places like Japan, India and the United States. Do you think every country needs a “loneliness minister”? Is it a significant enough issue that the government should intervene? Why or why not?

— In the article, lawmakers stated, “Young or old, loneliness doesn’t discriminate.” Do you agree with this statement? Have you noticed that loneliness is a problem among people your age?

— Based on your own experience and from what you’ve read, what do you think is contributing to society’s growing problem of social isolation?

— What strategies have you used to cope with feeling alone? What would you recommend to others who might be feeling this way?

— Is there anything that individuals, schools or other organizations can do to combat the societal problem of loneliness? If so, what can be done?

Related Learning Network resource: Text to Text | ‘The Real Campus Scourge’ and ‘My College Transition’