Feeling lonely in Singapore: what helps, and where to find support

If you are feeling lonely in Singapore, you are not alone. An Institute of Policy Studies poll found adults aged 21 to 34 reported the highest loneliness of any age group, and a Duke-NUS study found about a third of older Singaporeans felt lonely. Loneliness is common, it is not a personal failing, and small steps can help.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, please reach out now. Call Samaritans of Singapore on 1767 (24 hours) or national mindline on 1771 (24 hours). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 995 or go to the nearest A&E.

You are not the only one feeling this way

Loneliness can feel strange in a city this crowded. You can spend all day on packed trains and in open-plan offices and still go home feeling that nobody really knows you.

The numbers say this is widely shared:

• Young adults feel it most. In an Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) poll of 2,356 Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 21 to 64, carried out in late 2023, those aged 21 to 34 had the highest loneliness scores. More than half of them, 56 per cent, said they sometimes felt anxious about talking to people in person.
• Older adults feel it too. A Duke-NUS study using nationally representative data found 34 per cent of older Singaporeans considered themselves lonely, rising to 43 per cent among those living alone.
• It is a global pattern. The World Health Organization estimates about one in six people worldwide are affected by loneliness.

Loneliness is not the same as poor mental health, but the two can go together. In the 2024 National Population Health Survey by MOH and the Health Promotion Board, 25.5 per cent of residents aged 18 to 29 had scores indicating poor mental health, the highest of any age group. The 2025 survey again found it most common among adults aged 18 to 29.

Why loneliness happens here

When CNA asked young Singaporeans about loneliness in 2024, the reasons they gave were very ordinary:

• Not enough time. Long work and study hours leave little room for friendships.
• Life stages drift apart. Friends go overseas, start university or begin jobs at different times.
• Smaller families and changes to how people work and study since the pandemic.
• Not wanting to be a burden. Many hesitate to share problems with friends who seem busy.
• Shallow conversations. People said it is hard to find others willing to talk about deeper things.
• Scrolling. Social media can distract from loneliness while making you feel more left out.

If some of these sound familiar, that is the point. Loneliness usually comes from circumstances, not from something being wrong with you.

Small steps that help

You do not need to overhaul your life. Most people rebuild connection gradually, one small, repeated habit at a time.

1. Send one message today. Pick someone you have drifted from and send something simple: "Saw this and thought of you. How have you been?"
2. Choose something regular. Seeing the same faces every week matters more than one big event. Community clubs list courses and interest groups on onePA, from line dancing to yoga.
3. Volunteer. Doing something useful alongside others takes the pressure off conversation. Giving.sg lists volunteering opportunities across Singapore.
4. Join an activity group. Meetup hosts walking, hiking, sports and social groups in Singapore, many of them free.
5. Say yes a little more. Accept the lunch invitation, stay ten minutes after the class, ask a colleague for kopi.
6. Notice your scrolling. If an hour on social media leaves you feeling worse, try swapping some of it for a walk or a call.
7. Be patient with yourself. Friendships take time. The first few conversations often feel awkward for everyone.

When to get more support

Sometimes loneliness settles in deeply and starts to affect your sleep, appetite, work or mood. If that is happening, or if you have felt this way for a long time, it is worth talking to someone trained to help. A GP or polyclinic doctor is a good first step, and the helplines below are there to listen.

Helplines in Singapore

• National mindline 1771: call 1771, WhatsApp 6669 1771, or use the webchat via mindline.sg. Available 24 hours.
• Samaritans of Singapore (SOS): hotline 1767 and CareText on WhatsApp 9151 1767, both 24 hours, for anyone in crisis or having thoughts of suicide.
• Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH): 1800 283 7019, weekdays 9am to 6pm, excluding public holidays.
• Care Corner Counselling (Mandarin): 1800 353 5800, daily 10am to 10pm, excluding public holidays.
• Emergencies: call 995 or go to the nearest A&E.

A note if you have an old number saved: IMH's former Mental Health Helpline, 6389 2222, was retired on 18 June 2025 when mindline 1771 launched. Use 1771 instead.

Hours can change, so check each service's website if you are unsure.

A gentle note on meeting people

For some people, meeting someone new is easier with a little structure. Now I'm Open is a new web app from Singapore where adults post short "Open to…" cards, for a walk, a coffee or a chat, and connect only if both say yes. It may help some readers take a small first step. It is not a substitute for support from friends, family or professionals.

Whatever you try first, be kind to yourself. Reaching out, even in a small way, takes courage.