One in five older people in the UK admits to feelings of loneliness – and this only intensifies at Christmas. What is causing this crisis and how can we combat the sense of isolation?

LET COUNSELLOR KEREN LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD

THAT FEELING OF BEING ON THE OUTSIDE, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE WITH EVERYONE? YOU’RE NOT IMAGINING IT – AND IT CAN CHANGE. HERE’S HOW TO GET THE FEELING OF CONNECTION BACK

Q‘I’m 61 and have just moved from London to Scotland to start a new life. The scenery is breathtaking but my social life… less so. I’ve always been “the nice one” – helpful, upbeat, unfailingly polite

We can’t predict exactly how you’ll be feeling as the year comes to a close, but our best guess is that you’ll be in need of a breather. Because for many of us, 2025 has not been painless. Political t

For anyone devoted to a fitness regime, party season can feel like the least joyful time of year. But swerving nights out and anything stronger than a protein shake risks more than a buzzkill reputation – it can put a downer on your entire emotional wellbeing. Instead of Team Health or Team Hedonism, the best festive gift is unwrapping a middle ground between clean living and a little chaos