WHO makes loneliness a global health priority with new Commission on Social Connection

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared loneliness a global health priority and launched a new Commission on Social Connection to address this pressing health threat. Over the next three years, the commission will focus on strategies to combat the global epidemic of loneliness and deepen social connections. It is co-chaired by African Union Youth Envoy Chido Mpemba and US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who has been vocal about the risks of social isolation and has made it a top concern during his tenure in office. Murthy emphasized that loneliness is an underappreciated threat to health that has become widespread.

Dr. Karen DeSalvo, the chief health officer of Google and a member of the committee, stated that she experienced firsthand the need for “great care to happen in a context”—which involves social connection—during her tenure as a clinician and as the health commissioner of New Orleans.

She and her colleagues tried to persuade people to travel to shelters in New Orleans after a hurricane destroyed power and made homes unbearably hot, but even as so many people were abandoned, it was hard to convince some of them to do so.

According to DeSalvo, “people can easily become marginalized and isolated, and it affects their health outcomes.”

For example, if someone seeks treatment for chest discomfort, the medical system will address the pain, but if that person is released into social isolation, it will be impossible for them to truly recover, the expert added.

Public health professionals have recently given loneliness a lot of attention. Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a sex therapist, was named the first loneliness ambassador by the state of New York last week. Murthy presented a plan in May to address loneliness and “mend the fabric of our nation.” Furthermore, it’s not just a US issue—the UK named its first minister for loneliness in 2018.

According to research, a lack of certain social connections is associated with poor mental health and raises the risk of anxiety, depression, and suicide. “Social disconnection has now become a key driver of the broader mental health crisis that we are seeing in this world,” stated Murthy, who estimated that 1 in 8 people, or roughly a billion people, are suffering from a mental health issue, with 25% of those people being adolescents.

Poor physical health might also result from social isolation and loneliness. Individuals with less social support are more likely to pass away young. Social isolation and loneliness have a 30% increased risk of stroke and have long been linked to weakened immune systems and cardiovascular issues including high blood pressure. They are linked to a 50% rise in dementia cases and further contribute to cognitive impairment. Individuals who experience isolation also frequently engage in unhealthy behaviors like binge drinking, smoking, and increased inactivity.

One study equated the long-term health effects of loneliness to smoking up to fifteen cigarettes a day.

Seniors are the subject of a large body of study on social isolation and loneliness. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older persons are more vulnerable because they frequently live alone, have experienced greater family or friend loss, and are more likely to have physical issues like hearing loss, which can prevent them from interacting with others.

However, loneliness is not limited to the elderly.

According to a survey conducted in 142 countries and released this month, over one in four respondents indicated they felt very or somewhat lonely. Youngsters are not exempt too; research indicates that more than 50% of kids and teenagers experienced loneliness at least occasionally.

Studies suggest that the Covid-19 pandemic may have made those emotions worse, as social isolation and loneliness have a deleterious effect on the symptoms of anxiety and depression in younger people.

Despite the fact that people are social beings by nature, Dr. Ryan Patel, a psychiatrist at The Ohio State University Office of Student Life Counseling and Consultation Services who specializes in social connectivity research, maintains that social skills are developed via practice.

People’s “softer, easy social interactions” were reduced due to the pandemic’s isolation, and the effects are still being felt, particularly among youth.

Without that, Patel, who is not on the WHO committee, said, “it can then be anxiety-provoking to be in highly social environments when you’ve not had that kind of practice.”

According to Patel, the hyperconnectivity of younger generations has also unintentionally made them perceive the world through a narrower lens, making it difficult for them to deal with people who may not share their viewpoint.

According to Patel, “you might be concerned that you might say the wrong thing, and that can heighten anxiety.” People are less inclined to interact in the divisive environment, which can also lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

For people of all ages, wherever they may be, “social cohesion, connectedness, and loneliness matter for healthy outcomes,” according to DeSalvo. She is hoping that the new WHO committee will produce data that will enable health systems globally to better address the relationship between heart disease and loneliness.

They have a proven track record, and she believed that their action-oriented approach would be beneficial.

Apart from devising strategies to assist individuals in assisting themselves, their neighbors, and their communities in feeling less alone, the committee can assist the larger community in addressing this significant public health issue.

Thus, how can we assist the global public and commercial sectors in understanding how to implement these treatments and go forward to enhance the health of people everywhere? Said DeSalvo.