Ministers for loneliness

On January 17, 2018, British Prime Minister Theresa May appointed a minister, Tracey Crouch, to lead government-wide efforts against loneliness. More than 9 million people in the United Kingdom said they always or often felt lonely. The government was taking up the recommendations of the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, saying it wanted to carry on the legacy of the MP who had made isolation her cause.

In February 2021, in the middle of the pandemic, Japan followed by appointing its own minister responsible for loneliness and isolation, with a dedicated office within government. In May 2023, the country passed a law on the subject, which came into force in April 2024. According to a 2024 government survey, about 40% of respondents said they felt lonely. People aged 20 to 29 were the most likely to say they often or always felt lonely.

Japan set itself the goal of a society where people support one another and stay connected. It is almost a translation of Ubuntu into public policy: loneliness is not a personal failure, it is a social bond to be rewoven, collectively.