It has become something of a truism that loneliness is the epidemic of the twenty-first century. Behind the phrase lies a complex issue affecting people in many circumstances. Across Lanzarote, institutions offer different forms of support, giving people somewhere to turn for help.
The WHO defines loneliness as a painful, subjective experience arising from a gap between the social connections a person has and those they want or need. It cuts across society and takes many different forms. The WHO does not classify loneliness as a mental health condition in itself, but as a risk factor that can contribute to depression, anxiety and other conditions.
The problem has different dimensions, involving both personal circumstances and perception. Isolation: how many connections do I have? Unwanted loneliness: how do I experience those connections? Social exclusion and dependency: what limits or hinders my participation in society? According to the WHO, loneliness is most prevalent among adolescents, declines progressively with age and affects slightly more women than men. Older people, in other words, are not the age group most affected.
Marci Acuña, Councillor for Social Welfare and Inclusion, notes that ‘in Lanzarote, our institutions have chosen to address the most urgent and serious cases first, supporting people facing social exclusion. They are offered shelter, food, protection and psychological support.’
‘In 2024,’ he continues, ‘we created the Specialised Inclusion and Social Intervention Service, a permanent service with 60 temporary accommodation places. It runs support programmes, has backed projects operated by the Red Cross, Flora Acoge and Emerlán, and coordinates with local council social services departments.’
Eva Torres, Inclusion Coordinator, says the Service supported 1,400 people in 2024 and 1,376 in 2025. She identifies the Mental Health Unit, the organisations already mentioned and local health centres as the first places to seek help. For those whose loneliness has not developed into a mental health condition, she recommends joining group activities or visiting local social and cultural centres.
Arrecife Town Council also runs a home support service and a programme of sessions with a psychologist for people in these circumstances, according to Maite Corujo, head of Social Welfare. Emerlán offers temporary accommodation, while the Lanzarote Red Cross and Flora Acoge provide multidisciplinary services involving social workers and psychologists.
Flora Acoge also runs two programmes specifically for older people experiencing loneliness. Its director, Montse González, says one provides companionship at home and is funded by the Canary Islands Government, while the other promotes active ageing through social interaction and movement and coordination activities.
Lanzarote also has organisations supporting particular groups, including Mararía for women; Adislan for people with disabilities; COGAL and Lánzate for the LGBTI+ community; and El Cribo for people living with mental health conditions.
