Loneliness - World Mental Health Day 2026
More than a night out: friendship, belonging and Veterans Voyage
As World Mental Health Day approaches on 10th October 2026, we want to talk about something that can be easy to miss: loneliness.
When we picture loneliness, we often imagine someone living alone, spending long days without visitors or a conversation. Those experiences matter. But loneliness can also be present in a busy home, within a relationship or among a room full of people. Having company does not always mean feeling connected.
At Veterans Voyage, we believe that opportunities to meet, laugh and build friendships matter. Our events and trips are about creating shared experiences and helping people feel part of a community.
What loneliness can look like
Loneliness is personal. It might be having nobody to call when you have good news, or nobody you feel comfortable telling when you are struggling. It might be missing the familiarity of military life: the shared experiences, the humour and the feeling that someone understands without needing the whole story explained.
For some, it is a quiet weekend with nothing in the diary. For others, it is feeling disconnected even while surrounded by family or colleagues. Someone can appear cheerful and sociable while still wishing they had closer friendships.
Loneliness can affect mental wellbeing, and struggling with mental health can make reaching out feel harder. That is one reason we want to make opportunities for connection a regular part of community life, rather than waiting until someone reaches a difficult point.
A little competition, a lot of laughter
Our recent Veterans Voyage skittles night was a lovely reminder of what bringing people together can look like.
There was laughter, a little competitiveness and plenty of camaraderie. We played together, ate together and enjoyed each other’s company. Having something to do gave us a natural starting point for conversation, without anyone needing to think of the perfect opening line.
An evening like that can mean different things to different people. It might be a chance to catch up with familiar faces, get to know someone better or simply enjoy a few hours away from the usual routine.
We cannot know what everyone takes home from an event. But we can create opportunities for friendships to begin and grow. A shared meal, a laugh over a game and a conversation can be the start of something that continues long after the evening ends.
Friendship matters for couples too
We also want to recognise people whose social lives centre mainly on their partner.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying life together. Many couples are happy and content in each other’s company. But a wider friendship network can bring something valuable to both their lives: other people to spend time with, different conversations and new experiences to share.
That is why encouraging couples to come along matters to us. Meeting other couples and making individual friendships can help build a community around both people.
There is a future-facing reason for this too. As we get older, circumstances can change. Illness, caring responsibilities or the death of a partner can leave someone facing life with a much smaller circle than they once had.
Friendships cannot remove grief or guarantee that someone will never feel lonely. But building those connections now may mean there are familiar people to turn to later: someone to call, share a meal with or accompany to an event. We hope people will join us because there is enjoyment and friendship to be found today, with connections that can also matter in the years ahead.
The ethos of Veterans Voyage
At the heart of Veterans Voyage is a belief in shared experiences, camaraderie and belonging.
Through events and trips, we aim to give veterans and their loved ones opportunities to spend time together, strengthen existing friendships and make new ones. We want people to have something to look forward to and a community they can feel part of.
You do not need to describe yourself as lonely to benefit from joining in. You might come for the activity, the company, a day out or the chance to meet someone new. Every one of those is a good reason.
This World Mental Health Day, we invite you to take a look at our upcoming events, come along with your partner or a friend, or get in touch if you are thinking of attending on your own and feel unsure.
And if someone you know might enjoy joining us, invite them. A simple “Would you like to come with me?” can make that first step easier.
A night out can become a shared memory. A shared memory can become a friendship. That is what we hope to build at Veterans Voyage. If loneliness is affecting your mental health or daily life, consider speaking to your GP. You can also find advice and support through https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/loneliness/