The paper "Changing the Narrative: Loneliness as a Social Justice Issue" by Manuela Barreto, David Matthew Doyle, and Pamela Qualter challenges the dominant narrative that views loneliness primarily as an individual deficit. This narrative, rooted in neoliberal and individualistic ideologies, often leads to ineffective interventions and stigmatizes loneliness. The authors argue that loneliness is heavily influenced by social and structural conditions, which create unequal distributions and perpetuate social disparities. They propose that loneliness should be recognized as a social justice issue, addressing the systemic inequalities that contribute to it. The paper highlights the limitations of the dominant narrative, including its role in increasing loneliness, its failure to account for important predictors, and its lack of effectiveness in producing sustainable change. It also discusses the broader societal impacts of loneliness, such as reduced political participation and increased health costs. The authors emphasize the need to consider social and structural factors, such as interpersonal exclusion, cultural hegemony, exclusive communities, and discriminatory policies, to understand and address loneliness effectively. They advocate for a shift in policy and practice to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their social status or identity, feel included and supported.The paper "Changing the Narrative: Loneliness as a Social Justice Issue" by Manuela Barreto, David Matthew Doyle, and Pamela Qualter challenges the dominant narrative that views loneliness primarily as an individual deficit. This narrative, rooted in neoliberal and individualistic ideologies, often leads to ineffective interventions and stigmatizes loneliness. The authors argue that loneliness is heavily influenced by social and structural conditions, which create unequal distributions and perpetuate social disparities. They propose that loneliness should be recognized as a social justice issue, addressing the systemic inequalities that contribute to it. The paper highlights the limitations of the dominant narrative, including its role in increasing loneliness, its failure to account for important predictors, and its lack of effectiveness in producing sustainable change. It also discusses the broader societal impacts of loneliness, such as reduced political participation and increased health costs. The authors emphasize the need to consider social and structural factors, such as interpersonal exclusion, cultural hegemony, exclusive communities, and discriminatory policies, to understand and address loneliness effectively. They advocate for a shift in policy and practice to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their social status or identity, feel included and supported.