This article is part of the Fractured Canadian Relationships series.

What if I told you that loneliness is not just a personal problem, but a societal issue that affects us all?

Loneliness and social isolation are pervasive issues affecting Canadians across all age groups. Recent surveys and studies reveal a fractured landscape of relationships, with each generation facing unique challenges. You might be a social butterfly. Perhaps you prefer to keep yourself to yourself. If you’re like me, at times you like to be alone but being alone is not the same as being lonely. Loneliness is an emotion you experience when you feel isolated. When you feel like that, it’s more difficult for you to develop meaningful connections with others. 

Researching Canadian sources (not included but I can provide links if you are interested in more content and detail), here’s a snapshot of how Canadians from Generation Alpha to the Silent Generation experience loneliness and disconnectedness, balanced with some causes and experiences. I also include a story made up from some stats to personalize it. So the read isn’t so long, there is a post for each GEN.

Millennials (Ages roughly 28-43, born 1981-1996)

Statistics

• The Canadian Mental Health Association found that 44% of millennials report feeling “no one really knows them well” despite being the most digitally connected generation. Statistics Canada data show that millennials have the highest rates of living alone and delayed family formation, and 28% report they don’t have any close friends they can call in a crisis  A survey 2019 by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reports that 60% say they feel disconnected from their communities

Causes

• Instability in career and economy limits community formation. Geographic mobility separates them from childhood support networks. Sense of identity focused upon work with fewer returns for well being. Navigating major life transitions like careers, partnerships and parenthood with fewer social scripts to follow as with previous generations.

Experience

• Report feeling isolated and lonely during important life transitions. With financial challenges and changing social norms, they increasingly describe feeling pressured to create “chosen families” to replace traditional support systems. Express being frustrated by the limited mentorship from older adults to navigate adult life challenges. Often feel stuck between caring for younger generations and supporting aging parents with fewer resources that previous generations had.

“Just closed my laptop after another day of WFH in my overpriced crate condo. My Insta’s popping with likes on that poutine pic I posted (#livingmybestlife), but I haven’t had face time – actual face-to-face time, not FaceTime – with anyone outside Zoom in at least two weeks. I moved to this city for an ‘amazing opportunity’ that barely covers my student loans and rent that keeps going up. People said your twenties were for finding yourself but here I am in my thirties still waiting for real life to start. My dating profile on Hinge mentions loving hiking in Banff (went once), but the conversations fizzle faster than my PC sparkling water. I’m ordering Skip the Dishes for one…again. How’s it possible to have hundreds of Facebook friends and still eat dinner alone every night? This can’t be what adulting is supposed to feel like in the True North.”

Milennial Megan