According to the OECD’s (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) "2025 Social Connections and Loneliness Report", up to 14% of people in member countries feel lonely most or all of the time. “No matter the part of the world, holidays come with a lot of ‘shoulds’ and unrealistic social expectations of happiness and connectedness. According to the 2025 “Festive Feeling” study from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, more than one in three people feel tired “for no good reason” and lonely this holiday season. "When that happens, it’s much harder to regulate emotions or make considered decisions, thus social cues can feel harsher. Even simple actions like reaching out to an old friend or setting up a video call with family can help ease the loneliness many feel this holiday season.

Source: The Star December 28, 2025 16:36 UTC