AN ASSEMBLY member for North Wales has backed a national conversation on what can be done to combat loneliness and social isolation in Wales.

This week a public consultation was launched by the Welsh Government, titled ‘Connected communities - Tackling loneliness and social isolation’, with the aim of hearing people’s views across Wales on loneliness, which impacts 1 in 5 people nationwide and is fast becoming a significant public health issue.

The National Survey for Wales 2016-17 found that 17 per cent of the population of Wales, around 440,000 people, reported being lonely, while younger people were more likely to be lonely than older people: 20 per cent of 16-24 year olds were lonely, compared with 10 per cent of those aged 75 or over.

Loneliness and social isolation can result in a number of physical and psychological problems including premature death, sleep problems, high blood pressure, poor quality of life, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, depression and suicide.

Research demonstrates that loneliness has an effect on mortality that is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Ann Jones AM has stated her support for the consultation. She said: “Loneliness and isolation is a health problem that affects residents across Denbighshire it affects different groups of people at a variety of stages of life.

“It can have and does have a significant impact on people’s physical and mental health and preventing people from suffering must be a priority.

“This is not an issue that one organisation will solve. That is why I support this national conversation and would ask everybody to take part.”

Make your views heard in the consultation by visiting https://beta.gov.wales/connected-communities-tackling-loneliness-and-social-isolation