Every year, for one week in May, Mental Health Foundation host Mental Health Awareness Week in order to raise awareness around a particular theme. This year's theme is loneliness, raising awareness of the link between loneliness and mental health issues.

Loneliness is when we feel we do not have the meaningful relationships we want around us. It's something we can all experience from time to time, throughout our lives, and will be different for everyone.

One in four adults feel lonely some or all of the time. There’s no single cause and there’s no one solution. But, the longer we feel lonely, the more we are at risk of mental health problems. Some people are also at higher risk of feeling lonely than others.

A YouGov poll (2019) of 13-19-year-olds found 69% said they felt alone “often” or “sometimes” in the last fortnight and 59% feel like they “often” or “sometimes have no one to talk to".

It's important to support young people in recognising when they are feeling lonely, understanding their thoughts and feelings, and identifying the supportive connections they have.

Two years ago, as part of the Heads Up Campaign led by HRH The Duke of Cambridge, the UK football family collectively backed the Mentally Healthy Football Declaration. The declaration involved governing bodies, leagues and organisations from across all levels of British football recognising that mental health is as important as physical health.

This Mental Health Awareness Week we would like to reaffirm our support for mental wellbeing and to encourage everyone to keep up the conversation on mental health.

Our website contains a dedicated Mental Health and Well-Being section, with links and information about some of the magnificent mental health charities you can contact for help and expert advice, whether you are concerned about yourself or a loved one.

Remember that if you are struggling, feeling down, or need support - reach out for help. Someone will always listen.

If you want to get involved with the Mental Health Foundation's campaign and join the nation in talking about loneliness and mental health, you can follow them on social media by following/sharing the hashtags #IveBeenThere and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.