Two thirds of young people in Finland experience loneliness on a regular basis, according to the Finnish Red Cross Loneliness Barometer. The proportion has increased since last year.

According to the Finnish Red Cross, young people and young adults are at high risk of loneliness, isolation and exclusion. The situation has also deteriorated further.

In Finland, 59% of young people aged 16 to 24 say that they sometimes feel lonely. One in four has lived with loneliness for over five years. In addition, 66% say they feel lonely a few times a month or more often, up from 47% last year.

– One in five 16-24 year olds say they have experienced loneliness for at least five years. This is a long time in a young person’s life. We know that prolonged loneliness in young people can lead to learning difficulties and also increase the risk of radicalization and violence. There is an urgent need to find common solutions to reduce young people’s loneliness, says Maaret Alaranta, Social Welfare Coordinator at the Finnish Red Cross, in a press release.

Mental health problems

Financial worries are the fourth most common reason for loneliness, according to the barometer. Younger people and those with lower incomes are more likely to experience loneliness. Many also cite poor relationship experiences and feeling different or left out as key causes. A third say that loneliness has led to mental health problems, while mental illness itself also contributes to increased loneliness.

– Mental health problems are often a contributing factor to loneliness, in addition to loneliness itself causing mental health problems. Mental health problems as an explanation for loneliness are more prominent in the responses of adolescents, young adults and foreign language speakers, says Kirsti Kuusterä, Director of the Finnish Red Cross Welfare and Health Unit.

According to the Red Cross, reducing loneliness requires action at all levels of society. For example, municipalities should include strategies against loneliness in their welfare plans and give the issue more attention.

– It is known that loneliness causes a number of diseases and it is in everyone’s interest that it is finally seen as a health threat that affects the entire population, says Alaranta.