To ask the Minister of Health to (i) outline what work has been undertaken to assess levels of loneliness in Northern Ireland; and (ii) detail any steps that are being taken to address the issue.

The rising prevalence of loneliness, especially amongst older people and more recently younger people has been identified in practice and research. In 2020, Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NIVCA) research concluded that one in twenty people experience chronic loneliness in Northern Ireland. In 2021, the Wellbeing In Northern Ireland Report produced by Northern Ireland Statistics Research Agency (NISRA) produced data from the Continuous Household Survey which assesses the levels of loneliness, self-efficacy, personal wellbeing an locus of control in Northern Ireland. The Department of Health loneliness team has met with NISRA and has contributed to their final report.

Northern Ireland does not have a specific strategy to address loneliness, however it is acknowledged as an important but cross cutting issue that no one organization can tackle working alone. It requires a collaborative approach involving all sectors, central government, agencies, voluntary and community sector and beyond. My Department is represented on the All Party Group for loneliness. A number of meetings have been held following its formation in 2019.

Many current policy areas and programmes in the Department lead by HSC organisations do contribute significantly to tackling loneliness and social isolation. These include the Reform of Social Adult Care, the Social Work Strategy, the Mental Health Strategy, the work undertaken by the Primary Care Multi-Disciplinary Teams.

A Department Of Health loneliness co-ordination team has been established to work alongside the wider HSC organisations and an HSC Forum has been set up. These structures will help to raise awareness and destigmatise these important issues as they impact on the health and wellbeing for those who are vulnerable or at risk.

My Department continues to work in partnership with the ROI, UK and beyond, to learn from other jurisdictions and share information on innovative approaches to tackle loneliness in support of positive outcomes for health and wellbeing.