Andorran Red Cross Warns of Rising Loneliness Among Youth and Elderly

Vicky Marrugat, president of the Andorran Red Cross, has raised alarms over growing loneliness affecting young people and the elderly in Andorra, linking it to social media use and evolving family dynamics.

Speaking to the Andorran News Agency (ANA), Marrugat described mental health and isolation as major societal concerns. She noted that no statistics are needed to observe youth facing solitude and disorders at increasingly young ages. While the issue spans all ages, she stressed its urgency among the young, who shape the country's future. The Red Cross plans to expand prevention efforts, companionship support, and intergenerational projects to rebuild social ties.

These warnings align with findings from a recent Andorra Research and Innovation (AR+i) barometer, revealing that 32.6% of residents exhibit anxiety disorder symptoms and 37.1% show potential depression signs. The data indicates slight improvement from last year but levels far exceeding pre-pandemic norms. Notably, 10% of the population reports frequent or constant loneliness, hitting young people and those aged 45 to 64 hardest proportionally.

Joan Micó, from AR+i's sociology unit, called the problem deeply complex and announced a specific loneliness study for 2026, an initiative Marrugat praised. The Red Cross is also targeting Andorra's ageing society by tailoring services for elderly residents living alone or in vulnerable conditions. Marrugat highlighted this demographic shift as a key challenge, urging stronger support to combat rising isolation.