1. Distracting yourself by dedicating time to work, study or hobbies. Drawing or painting is particularly absorbing. It doesn’t matter if the result is lousy. Singing in an amateur choir can be fun, and it doesn’t matter if your voice is a bit weak or you can’t read music.

2. Joining a social club, but this also appeared in the BBC list of the top three unhelpful things that other people suggest. If you feel isolated, then joining a club might help, but if you find it hard to trust people, you might still feel lonely in a crowd. other ideas are: joining a book club, where houcan get to know people gradually. Joining a gym is a possibility, although you might wait a while to meet someone sympathique!

3. Trying to change your thinking to make it more positive. This is easier said than done, but there are cognitive behavioural strategies which could help people to trust others. For example, if someone snubs you, you might assume it’s because they don’t like you, but if you ask yourself honestly what evidence you have for that, you might find there isn’t any. Instead you can learn to put forward alternative explanations – that they were tired or busy or preoccupied.

4. The next most common suggestions were to start a conversation with anyone, talk to friends and family about your feelings and to look for the good in every person you meet

5. People told the survey that the most unhelpful suggestion is to go on dates. While many respondents feel lonelier now they are not in a relationship, it is also clear that meeting someone new doesn’t necessarily solve everything. “It’s important to remember you can be lonely even when you’re in a relationship,” one respondent remsrked.

6. Arranging for a volunteer to phone you every Sunday for a long chat.

Loneliness survey, BBC oct 2, 2018