Taking on social issues through business: Loneliness and social isolation (Part 2) Loneliness and social isolation as a factor/phenomenon, and initiatives by public and private sectors

The second publication in this series, ‘Taking on social issues through business: Loneliness and social isolation’, is titled ‘Loneliness and social isolation as a factor/phenomenon, and initiatives by public and private sectors’. In this entry, we explore the presence or absence of attributes, such as gender and age, that make people prone to loneliness and social isolation. Also, we introduce the factors that lead to loneliness and social isolation, and their risks, as well as initiatives in Japan, the UK, the US and the EU.

As introduced in the previous publication of this series, the social and economic costs of loneliness and social isolation are too great to be underestimated. As a result, the UK’s advanced initiatives and the Japanese government’s actions are attracting global attention. Countries such as the US and Germany have started national movements to deal with this issue: each of us needs to deepen our understanding of loneliness and social isolation as an important step towards alleviating the situation.