Of course, this is before we even consider the direction that our mental health services are heading in. A report published last year found 40% of the mental health trusts in England had suffered budget cuts, leaving countless people without a lifeline of vital support – despite the Tory manifesto promising to battle the “injustice” of mental health.

The hypocrisy of the move to create a minister for loneliness therefore wasn’t lost on me, or indeed anyone on Twitter. Within hours of the role being announced the appointment was trending and, while there were plenty of positive comments in the fray, many were quick to point out that we still have a long way to go.

“While the sentiment is of course lovely, I can’t help but find it a bit sick that the Tories have created a Minister for Loneliness after perpetuating individualism for decades while decimating vital community services + letting mental health services collapse under pressure,” wrote political commentator Matt Turner.

“The new Minister For Loneliness is an admirable idea and I hope the PM recognises that one of the greatest factors in social isolation is poverty…and there’s rather a lot the Government could do about that…” added food writer Jack Monroe.

Even the new minister for loneliness herself isn’t immune to it, with Crouch admitting to the BBC that the closure of library and day centres were “all challenges [that] would be looked at”.

But amongst all this, I’m allowing myself to feel hopeful about the appointment. In her new role, Crouch will work closely with the commission, as well as numerous businesses and national charities, to develop a government strategy that aims to minimise loneliness and its impact – and that can only be a good thing. We should welcome this renewed focus on the issue of loneliness and social isolation, and push for the government to make concrete changes that will help minimise the suffering of nine million people in the UK.

After all, the fact that so many people are living with feelings of isolation is simply not good enough, and Jo Cox herself put it perfectly when she said: “I will not live in a country where thousands of people are living lonely lives forgotten by the rest of us”.

"The appointment of a minister for loneliness is hypocritical, but it gives me hope"