Could you tell us about the population your organisation supports?

Vision Ireland is the country’s National Sight Loss agency. According to the last census, 296,601 people in Ireland experience blindness or a vision impairment to any extent. In 2026, Vision Ireland expects to support 3,000 newly diagnosed people alongside our 20,000 existing service users. Our Counselling, Wellbeing and Emotional Support service provides the most comprehensive specialist source of emotional support for blind or vision impaired people (and their families) in Ireland.

Is loneliness a significant issue for them?

As we work to provide our service users with counselling and wellbeing supports, we see how strongly and consistently issues of isolation and accompanying loneliness feature for this community. Expressions of loneliness are evident across the entire age range we support, and we are noting a high incidence reported amongst the younger age cohort also. Blind and vision-impaired (VI) people in Europe face a disproportionately high risk of loneliness, with a range of studies indicating they are up to three times more likely to experience loneliness. Research has shown that 76-80% of blind or vision impaired individuals feel lonely some or all of the time.

Why do you think that is?

Living with sight loss or vision impairment is a significant challenge for many. Adjusting and adapting can be overwhelming as it can affect self-esteem, sense of self and ability to undertake daily tasks independently. Loneliness can be of particular concern for people with VI, as vision is a key sensory modality for social communication. Studies have determined that coping in social contexts can be more demanding when having difficulties seeing, and that people with VI may be more easily left out and isolated from others.

Other factors include reduced social interaction due to transport challenges, a higher prevalence of anxiety and low mood, and reduced confidence. People who are blind or vision impaired may have fewer opportunities to learn and modify social skills. In addition, individuals with VI are at higher risk of poor health, unemployment, low financial income and adverse interpersonal events, which strongly correlate with loneliness.

How does loneliness impact them?

Many share that the inability to perceive facial expressions and body language hampers social interaction and deepens their feelings of disconnection. This can often result in a cycle of social withdrawal, depression, and feelings of dependency on others, without the support required being always recognised by those others.

Younger individuals often relay their difficulties in finding and engaging in social activities, intimate relationships, and social cues. Also, inaccessible technology and information in many various spheres can prevent connection, limiting access to news, services, and online communities.

One of the most prevalent impacts arises from widespread significant challenges with public transport in Ireland, rural isolation, and navigation hazards (street clutter, poor paving etc.) hindering many from leaving their homes, meeting friends, or attending social events.

Is there anything you wish people knew about how loneliness affects this population?

Although much of what we know about loneliness in this population comes from studies and research, the most profound insight is often what we ourselves actually learn from those who have looked to us for support. Many express their experience of feeling condescended to, being ignored, or often feeling the need to hide their sight loss, causing further isolation.

Vision impairment can lead to diminishing connections if society overlooks the fundamental rights of everyone to feel included in a community, and often many individuals feel like they have become a “burden” who cannot fulfil previous roles or relationships. Essentially, everyone in society has equal basic needs in terms of social health, and a commitment to better inclusivity, access to services, transport and social engagement is a priority for everyone, at a local, community and national level.

What services or supports for loneliness do you think they would like? Where should these services be?

Vision Ireland offer a suite of services along a spectrum of engagement, including specific group peer supports, social activities, our Connection Network Befriending service and dedicated Counselling support.

Although many of these services take place online, as they originated during the Covid-19 years, we continue to receive requests for increased in-person interactions. However, due to lack of appropriate funding, resources and transport challenges, the capacity of our own service and other charities and NGOs to extend and develop further social opportunities is limited.

Those whom we support articulate their desire to have other services within communities such as gyms, choirs, social clubs and groups etc, become more open to including blind and vision impaired participants or members.

In recent times, we have started to gain a better understanding of the role that Social Prescription services can play in assisting members of all communities to become more active participants in a range of services and activities. We would like to see such services increase in range and scope and to further focus on recognising the unique challenges of those we support.

Are there any gaps in people’s understanding of the loneliness you see in this population?

Often there is a specific focus on meeting the practical needs and supports that are required. Whilst essential, many overlook the emotional and mental health implications accompanying loneliness. Given the very specific challenges that the people we support face, it can be easy to miss that people can be reluctant to name their loneliness. Expressing that you feel lonely could be dismissed or considered as invalid. It’s always essential to acknowledge that loneliness is not the same as being alone – for anyone. It’s possible to be in a room full of people, have many friends and family and still “feel” lonely or isolated.

Many underestimate how powerful connection, social activity and peer support can be within this community. It can be too easy to take such things for granted. For us all, meaningful relationships and connection enhance mental health, foster independence, boost self-esteem, whilst providing practical support needed for navigating daily life. Organisations like Vision Ireland commit to empowering people who are blind or vision-impaired to live independently and participate fully in society.

Do you think there is any research that could be done to close this gap?

There is very little research available with regards to the emotional, mental and social health needs of those with vision impairment/blindness in Ireland. Most studies are from other European countries or the U.S. We hope educational institutions and researchers who focus on disability, social issues and mental health would further consider research that includes the VI population.

We would welcome any supplementary research that further explores the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre 2022 study, which determined that Ireland had the highest rate of loneliness in the EU, with over 20% of respondents in Ireland reported feeling lonely most or all of the time, compared to the European average of 13%.

How well do you think government and statutory organisations in Ireland recognise the wider issue of loneliness?

Effective support services for those with vision impairment must be holistic and encompass many different areas including emotional, informational, practical, social and peer support.

The WHO’s social health recommendations focus on addressing the Social Determinants of Health, emphasizing defined action on inequality, social connection, and equitable access to services. The report cites social connection as an under recognised factor in individual and societal health and well-being and terms it as a “missing pillar” of overall health.  This has been our experience within this country, and it remains a challenge to have loneliness recognised as the major health threat it is.

Ireland’s national mental health policy (Sharing the Vision) highlights social connection and community support as crucial for positive mental health. However, for many organisations, accessing the funds, resources and staffing required to address this with the populations we support is difficult to secure.

We would welcome a dedicated, comprehensive national strategy on loneliness and the appointment of a minister for loneliness as evidenced in other countries.

Do you have any advice on how the friends and family of those you support can help them feel less lonely?

Supporting the families and friends of individuals with visual impairment is critical because these serve as a crucial foundation for any individual’s emotional well-being, practical and daily independence, as well as long-term social inclusion. However, we all know that with the best of intentions, family and friends can often make assumptions about what is in the best interests of those they are supporting and neglect to ask specifically about what is being experienced by the person themselves.

We frequently hear that people would like to be asked about what their own preferences are and to be able to have that difficult conversation where they might openly express their loneliness without seeming ungrateful for the presence and concern of their friends and loved ones. Vision Ireland provides counselling support to family members also, which can be a vital source of additional support for the entire family unit.