How can I tell if my child is lonely?

Loneliness is not a measure of how many friends someone has. Even very social children can experience feelings of loneliness and isolation.

When a young person feels lonely, they may:

• Avoid talking about friends
• Seem quiet or withdrawn, or be sad for no obvious reason
• Lose their appetite
• Mention they have no one to sit with at school
• Use social media a lot but don’t contact or spend much time with friends

Loneliness is sometimes linked to:

• Feeling different from the people around you, like you don’t fit it or that no one gets you
• A big change, such as moving house or starting a new school
• Being away from friends and family
• Losing a loved one or ending a relationship
• Being bullied or abused

Social media can be a powerful tool for feeling connected. At the same time, it can feel isolating to see friends doing things without you. Sometimes, posts can amplify ways we’re different from others.