Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543384
LONELINESS has emerged as one of the most widespread yet poorly understood public health concerns of modern times. De- spite Malta's image as a society built on strong family ties and close communities, it is not im- mune to this phenomenon. Ev- idence from national research conducted over the last eight years indicates that the country is confronting a deepening and expanding epidemic that cuts across generations, income lev- els and social groups. Last week, Nationalist MP Ivan Bartolo, party spokesperson for loneliness, introduced a private member's bill that formally rec- ognises loneliness as a nation- al social issue. The proposal is both timely and necessary. For years, academics, social operators and mental health professionals have stressed that loneliness is far more than a fleeting emotion. It is a meas- urable social condition with serious consequences for both physical and mental wellbeing. The body of evidence is now too compelling for policymakers to dismiss, and occasional isolated initiatives are clearly insuffi- cient. Longitudinal national surveys carried out in 2019, 2022 and 2025 by Marilyn Clark, Anna Grech, myself and a number of research officers within the Faculty for Social Wellbeing provide the clearest insight into Malta's reality. The most recent findings indicate that more than half of Maltese residents aged 11 and over experience some level of loneliness, with a con- siderable proportion falling into moderate or severe categories. This points not to a margin- al problem but to a structural social challenge affecting hun- dreds of thousands of people. At the same time, the 2025 data highlights a striking para- dox. Most respondents report having social contact—85.1% have someone to talk to about everyday concerns, while 74.2% feel supported during difficult times, and 76.7% believe they have sufficient friends or ac- quaintances. Yet beneath these reassuring figures lies a troubling emo- tional truth. Roughly one in five individuals report a persistent sense of emptiness, while many others miss close companion- ship or the simple comfort of another's presence. This contradiction reflects what contemporary research consistently shows—loneliness is not determined by the num- ber of relationships a person has, but by the gap between the connections they desire and those they genuinely expe- rience. It is a subjective emo- tional state, distinct from social isolation, but when prolonged it leads to measurable physical, psychological and even eco- nomic consequences. National findings also re- veal that loneliness is uneven- ly distributed. Young people, especially adolescents, show concerning patterns similar to those observed internationally, demonstrating that constant digital connectivity cannot re- place meaningful human in- teraction. Older adults facing retirement, bereavement or shrinking social networks are likewise at heightened risk. Fac- tors such as marital status, dis- ability, financial insecurity and weak community belonging all correlate with higher levels of loneliness and emotional emp- tiness. The health consequences are significant. Chronic loneliness is linked to depression, anxiety, cardiovascular illness, weakened immunity and premature death. Beyond individual suffering, it also generates economic costs through increased healthcare demand, lower productivity and broader social strain. Loneliness is therefore not merely a private emotional struggle but a nation- al public health issue. Equally worrying is the de- cline in community participa- tion. Only about a quarter of respondents report belonging to organisations such as NGOs, youth groups or sports clubs. These are spaces traditionally associated with solidarity, mu- tual support and a sense of be- longing. As civic engagement weakens, informal support net- works also erode, leaving indi- viduals increasingly vulnerable to isolation even in densely pop- ulated settings like Malta. Within this context, the pri- vate member's bill intent to recognise loneliness carries real significance. While the Nation- alist Party's Bill is not a com- plete solution, it represents a crucial institutional starting point. Official recognition plac- es responsibility on the state to coordinate prevention, early intervention and communi- ty-building efforts rather than leaving individuals to cope alone. Effective responses must ex- tend beyond clinical care. Re- search points to the need for layered strategies that include freely available psychological support, peer companionship programmes, social-skills devel- opment, volunteering, commu- nity initiatives and technology that strengthens, rather than replaces human connection. Education about loneliness, stronger collaboration among stakeholders, better use of infor- mation gathered by family doc- tors, wider access to talk thera- py and renewed neighbourhood engagement are all essential to restoring social cohesion. Malta still benefits from cul- tural foundations rooted in fam- ily life, faith and community. Yet these strengths cannot be taken for granted. Demograph- ic ageing, economic pressures, changing work patterns and in- creasingly digital lifestyles are reshaping social relationships. Without deliberate social pol- icy, the unseen bonds that sus- tain solidarity may gradually weaken. If Malta wishes to remain a society grounded in dignity, belonging and collective well- being, loneliness must be ad- dressed not as an individual failing but as a shared social re- sponsibility. The evidence is clear, the warning signs are visible, and the human and economic con- sequences are already emerging. Recognition is only the begin- ning. The next step must be deci- sive, systemic and based on ev- idence. It must be taken now, rather than postponed for fu- ture generations. 6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 FEBRUARY 2026 OPINION Andrew Azzopardi Professor at the University of Malta Malta cannot continue to overlook its growing loneliness crisis The next step must be decisive, systemic and based on evidence. It must be taken now, rather than postponed for future generations.