Loneliness is said to be more damaging to a person's health than smoking. But knowing how to be alone is also important for our health - both physical and mental.

In this episode we explore the concepts of  loneliness and being alone. We hear from a woman who spent more than 400 days in solitary confinement, and we explore what happens when life-affirming 'being alone' turns into devastating loneliness.

With Sara Shourd, Dr. Brian Lawlor, author Michael Harris, Fr. David Jones, Dr. Grant Blank of the Oxford Internet Institute.

Broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 , Ireland.