Loneliness is one of the top issues for young people in Ireland

One in five young people aged between 12 and 34 is experiencing loneliness, according to new research by spunout, Ireland’s youth information and support platform.

Loneliness: What Ireland’s Young People Are Telling Us

‘Loneliness: What Ireland’s Young People Are Telling Us’ was published today, coinciding 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. The service has supported more than 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 as the primary reasons for texting, 32% sadness and loneliness, and 29% stress and loneliness.

Commenting on the findings, 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 today 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.”

Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler marks spunout’s 20th anniversary

Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health, Mary Butler, said: “As we mark spunout’s 20th anniversary, I would like to congratulate the organisation on the hugely positive impact it has had on the lives of tens of thousands of young people over the past two decades. spunout offers a lifeline to those struggling though initiatives like the ‘Text About It’ service which provides young people with a compassionate ear no matter the time – day or night.”

“I was also proud to fund the Navigator tool launched with spunout earlier this year, which helps young people to easily access information and support that meets their needs and preferences.

“This new research from spunout today highlights the stark reality that loneliness is hitting young people hard, with serious consequences for their mental health. As I often say, there’s no health without mental health. We need to truly listen to their experiences and tackle the root causes of loneliness.”

“I look forward to working closely with spunout in the years ahead to listen to the voices and experiences of young people and ensure their perspectives remain at the heart of our policy decisions in mental health and our actions across Government.”

Recommendations from spunout loneliness report

To address youth loneliness and promote connection, the report outlines several recommendations

• Recognise loneliness as a public health priority: Develop a national youth loneliness strategy with clear aims, objectives, and youth involvement
• 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
• Strengthen all connections: Invest in community, digital, and peer-led initiatives that create belonging, embedding social connection into everyday environments for young people
• Enable youth-led solutions: Involve young people in designing and delivering loneliness prevention initiatives and fund youth-led projects that foster meaningful social connections

This report is the first piece published under spunout Insights. Insights will consist of a series of research pieces, made publicly available online, which will amplify the voices of young people and shape the national policy conversation. These research pieces will seek to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges young people face in relation to their mental health and how we can work collaboratively with them towards identifying and implementing real solutions.

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