Two stories about the true cost of loneliness have hit the headlines in recent days. The Telegraph reported on the life of schoolboy Aron Anderson, who lives on the remote Scottish archipelago of Out Skerries. Because the island he lives on is so small, Aron is the only pupil at his school, and has to rely on his dogs and some ducks for companionship.
Aron says he is very happy, and enjoys trips to the mainland to see other children. But loneliness can have more serious effects. Scientists at the University of Chicago have published a study claiming that people who spend a lot of time alone are more likely to die early. Their research appears to show that lonely people have lower levels of white blood cells in their bodies – which are needed to battle illness.
Since loneliness is something that affects everyone from time to time, we want to know about the period in your life when you’ve felt most alone. Did it affect your mental health? How did you find your way out of it, and do you try to help others who look as if they might be isolated? Tell us about your experiences of being on your own.
• If you are struggling with loneliness, a list of national helplines can be found here.
