Background: Older adults with mental illnesses are particularly vulnerable to the impact of loneliness. Despite this, loneliness is not regularly screened for in mental health services and remains under-recognized and under-treated. This research examines the prevalence of loneliness (overall, emotional, and social) in community-dwelling older adults with mental illness in an urban Australian setting and its relationship with depression and anxiety.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey methodology was used to assess the point prevalence of loneliness in older adults (65+ years) with mental illness accessing an older adult mental health service. Four questionnaires were administered to examine loneliness (De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale), depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale – Short Form), anxiety symptoms (Geriatric Anxiety Inventory) and cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment). Data were analysed using correlation and linear regression. Loneliness was dichotomized based on clinical thresholds to understand the effect of loneliness on anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Results: 54.1% of respondents reported loneliness, and emotional loneliness was more prevalent than social loneliness. There was a moderate, positive correlation between overall loneliness and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Both emotional and social loneliness were also associated with clinically significant depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Conclusion: More than half of older adults with mental illness experience loneliness. Given known and well-researched associations between loneliness and poor physical and mental health, we advocate that routine screening of loneliness is relevant for this vulnerable group. Through prompt recognition, effective bespoke interventions targeted at loneliness, such as intergenerational groups, could be introduced by nurses to improve physical and mental well-being, quality of life and aid recovery.