Human beings are innately wired for connections and shared experiences with others. All of this plays a pivotal role in how people operate and move through the world.

Unfortunately, recent years have shown a rise in folks feeling lonely for various reasons. Here in the United States, multiple reports document loneliness among men, along with theories and speculation about factors driving this loneliness.

However, feeling disconnected from other people is not mutually exclusive to Americans, by any means. As a matter of fact, across the pond in the United Kingdom, there's also evidence of marked loneliness among students attending university.

This is now a problem that Britain is working to fix.

UK takes on loneliness

According to a recent survey by YouGov, the overwhelming majority of Brits starting university feel lonely. At the same time, almost 50% of these students worry about judgment from others if they openly express their internal feelings.

As a means of combatting this, the United Kingdom is working with various student-focused charities to raise awareness. The objectives of this work are to help young Brits smoothly transition into university life and thrive in their academic studies.

The British government has likewise acknowledged just how debilitating loneliness can be. As pointed out by multiple officials, students who feel isolated and alone may be more inclined to withdraw from higher education or not invest real time into their studies.

Since COVID, the UK has also spent tens of millions of pounds to promote overall mental health support.

Individual means of combating loneliness

Feelings of loneliness can vary from person to person. Sometimes, this is a persistent issue, whereas in other situations, loneliness can be rather fleeting.

Either way, every person can benefit from knowing different means of combatting loneliness in their own lives.

At the top of the list is joining a creative class or sports club in your community. This will not only afford you time with like-minded people, but it can also encourage mental wellness.

Other great ways to tackle loneliness include the following:

• Volunteering in your community
• Reaching out to someone you haven't spoken to in a while
• Looking into therapy/counseling