One-in-five young people aged between 12 and 34 are experiencing loneliness, according to new research by spunout, Ireland’s youth information and support platform.
‘Loneliness: What Ireland’s Young People Are Telling Us’ was published recently to coincide with spunout’s 20th Anniversary. The findings draw on data from spunout’s Text About It, a free, anonymous, 24/7 messaging service providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for mental health supporting over 45,000 conversations so far in 2025.
These insights into the lived experiences of young people in Ireland reveal that loneliness is a key concern.
Feelings of loneliness often appear alongside anxiety, sadness and stress. Many young people using Text About It discussed other challenging emotions alongside their feelings of loneliness.
A third reported anxiety and loneliness, 32 per cent sadness and loneliness, and 29 per cent stress and loneliness.
Commenting, Sinéad Keane, CEO at spunout, said: “The past 20 years of spunout are a remarkable legacy, and they have shown what can be achieved when all of us believe in young people, trust their voices and provide them with the resources they require to thrive. Our goal is to carry this legacy forward and make our next 20 years as impactful and meaningful to the young people of Ireland as we possibly can.
“Each day spunout connects with 3,987 young people through our projects. Some
of these connections fleeting, others more sustained, and some genuinely life-changing: A young person considering suicide who reaches out to us in the middle of the night, or someone who begins a life-long journey as a mental health champion through an Academy course.
“Over the past two decades young people in Ireland have faced a variety of challenges. The data we’re publishing starkly illustrates how loneliness and isolation have quietly grown into one of the most alarming challenges they now face. Each connection
we make matters and it’s an unavoidable fact that many of those reaching out to us are doing so from a place of profound isolation, sometimes with nowhere else they feel they can turn.
“Without timely intervention, both the human and economic cost of loneliness will continue to rise. However, there are meaningful steps that policymakers can take to foster connection, belonging and support in young people’s lives.”
To address youth loneliness and promote connection, the report outlines several recommendations:
1. Recognise loneliness as a public health priority: Develop a national youth loneliness strategy with clear aims, objectives, and youth involvement. 2. Support education and early intervention initiatives: Promote emotional literacy, help-seeking skills, and awareness in schools, youth services, and online spaces, with inclusive options for young people not in higher education.
3. Strengthen all connections: Invest in community, digital, and peer-led initiatives that create belonging, embedding social connection into everyday environments for young people.
4. Enable youth-led solutions: Involve young people in designing and delivering loneliness prevention initiatives and fund youth-led projects that foster meaningful social connections.
