Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Vivek Murthy and Chido Mpemba
Around the world, an invisible threat is increasing the risk of disease, shortening lives and fraying the fabric of our communities. Social disconnection – when a person lacks sufficient social contact, feels unsupported in their existing relationships, or experiences negative or strained connections – is an increasingly serious but often overlooked danger to health and wellbeing. There are several forms of social disconnection, including loneliness and social isolation.
Today nearly one in six people globally report feeling lonely. Among adolescents and young adults as well as people living in low-income countries, the rate is even higher. But loneliness and social isolation are not just emotional states – they can be lethal. According to a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO), from 2014 to 2019, loneliness was associated with more than 871,000 deaths annually – equivalent to 100 deaths per hour. We now have irrefutable evidence that social health – our ability to form and maintain meaningful human connections – is just as essential to our wellbeing as physical and mental health. Yet for too long, it has been ignored by health systems and policymakers alike.
The report by WHO’s Commission on Social Connection comes a month after the World Health Assembly adopted the first ever resolution on social connection. The report marks a turning point for this serious global health threat and highlights the need for decisive leadership and action. The commission’s report charts a clear path forward with evidence-based strategies to reverse this scourge and strengthen the bonds that allow individuals and societies to thrive.
Humans are hardwired for connection. From our earliest years, relationships shape our brains, our emotions and our chances of living a healthy life. Conversely, disconnection, whether through loneliness, or social isolation, can have devastating impacts: It increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety, dementia and premature death. It can also result in poor school and work performance and costs economies and societies billions per year.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is Director-General of the World Health Organization, Vivek Murthy= is a Co-chair, WHO Commission on Social Connection and Chido Mpemba is Co-chair, WHO Commission on Social Connection
Source: Al Jazeera
