A BBC Loneliness Experiment, which surveyed 55,000 people from around the world, has found that younger people feel lonelier than any other generation. But this isn't just something specific to Gen Z – in retrospect, all generations admit they felt the loneliest when they were younger.

Between busy commutes, noise pollution and a lack of greenery, it’s no wonder that city-dwellers are 21% more likely to experience anxiety than country folk. Happy City is an initiative that advises decision makers on thinking that could lead to better urban planning – and happier urbanites.

Social isolation is increasing across both nations and generations, meaning that many countries are facing a 'loneliness epidemic'. Global research has warned that the negative impacts of social isolation are so vast that it's becoming a greater public health problem than obesity.

Thanks to the incessant chatter of social media, addictive mobile games, and the internet of everything, we’re slaves to our screens and incapable of tolerating our own company. Yet solitude is a powerful resource that more people are waking up to as they look to reboot, reflect and get mindful.