Loneliness and social isolation are increasingly becoming global public health concerns with serious health and societal implications, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
The WHO on Monday revealed that no fewer than 871,000 people die annually from loneliness across the world.
According to the WHO commission, one in six people globally is affected by loneliness, which, together with social isolation, contributes to physical illness.
It noted that loneliness heightens the risk of strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and suicide.
The WHO further stated that lonely teenagers are 22 per cent more likely to achieve lower grades than their peers, while lonely adults struggle more in finding or keeping jobs.
Beyond individuals, the impact extends to society, resulting in billions in healthcare costs and lost productivity.
The commission’s co-chair, Vivek Murthy, described loneliness as “a painful, subjective feeling that many of us experience when the relationships that we need do not match the relationships that we have.
“And social isolation, by contrast, is an objective state of having few relationships or interactions.”
According to the report, one in three older adults and one in four adolescents are estimated to be socially isolated.
Its causes range from illness, poor education, low income, and living alone to limited opportunities for social interaction and the increasing use of digital technologies.
Murthy stressed that for millennia, humans have communicated not just with words, but also through facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and silence.
He warned that these essential human connections are being eroded as people become increasingly reliant on mobile phones and social media.
The WHO highlighted Sweden as a notable example of proactive measures. The country has adopted a national strategy to combat loneliness, according to Swedish Social Minister Jakob Forssmed.
Sweden views loneliness not just as a personal issue but one that impacts the entire society.
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Efforts are underway to strengthen social ties in places like shops, restaurants, neighbourhoods, and clubs.
Forssmed disclosed that Sweden also plans to ban mobile phones in public schools.
“Studies have shown that this increases social interaction and reduces cyberbullying,” he said.
He added that children and teenagers benefit from better sleep and are more likely to set their phones aside during leisure time.
Forssmed also mentioned that many children become frustrated when their parents are constantly distracted by their phones.
While digital tools have advantages, such as allowing video calls that were once impossible, the commission stressed the need to prioritise real-life connections.
Murthy said, “having places and spaces in our life where we can interact face to face with other people without the distraction of technology is very important.”
