The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Loneliness a global health threat, saying that it has serious consequences for the mental, as well as physical, well-being of people. On November 17, 2023, the specialised UN agency responsible for international public health said that loneliness was as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes in a single day!
In a statement, WHO mentioned that social isolation and social pain emerged as a real problem across the globe. According to the statement, people of different age groups currently have an insufficient number of social connections. Hence, they are not feeling connected with others. Earlier, psycho-analysts used to think that isolation and loneliness primarily affected older people especially in high-income countries. However, researchers have found that social isolation is common among one in four older people, and in 5-15% adolescents!
As per the latest studies, the lack of social connection leads to an equivalent, or even greater, risk of early death, as the majority of lonely people develop other risk factors, like smoking, excessive drinking, physical inactivity, obesity, etc. Researchers are of the opinion that social isolation is closely linked to anxiety and depression. It can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by 30%.
To address the issue, the UN Health Body has decided to set up a new Commission on Social Connection. WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stressed that the commission shall promote social connection and accelerate the scaling up of solutions in UN member countries. He added: "High rates of social isolation and loneliness around the world have serious consequences for health and well-being. People without enough strong social connections are at higher risk of stroke, anxiety, dementia, depression, suicide and more." Dr Ghebreyesus further said: "This WHO Commission will help establish social connection as a global health priority and share the most promising interventions."
The Director General has informed the media that US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy and African Union (AU) Youth Envoy Chido Mpemba shall co-chair the proposed commission that will also have 11 leading policy-makers, thought leaders and advocates. They would be analysing the central role of social connection in the next three years in an attempt to improve the health condition of people of various age groups. The commission will also outline solutions for building social connections, apart from enhancing connections between people for their well-being. Dr Ghebreyesus has expressed hope that the proposed move shall help foster economic progress, social development and innovation. Meanwhile, the Commission on Social Connection shall be supported by a Secretariat based at WHO headquarters in Geneva. It shall hold its first leadership-level meeting on December 6-8, 2023.
Although the WHO has declared loneliness a global health threat, it is felt that one can cope with this problem. Psycho-analysts have advised people to curate self-care rituals. They are of the opinion that it has become important to develop proactive and personalised self-care rituals designed around the mind, body and soul. Hobbies and activities, too, can play an important role in tackling the issue of loneliness, as one would have to identify and engage in activities that could bring joy to her/him. The WHO officials have further advised people to allocate scheduled time for hobbies, like painting, pottery, photography or trekking. People can also get involved in volunteer activities and dedicate time to social causes and activities. Rejuvenating relationships is another option to get rid of loneliness. A person can foster meaningful relationships and build a support system to combat loneliness.
A slightly difficult option is to re-programme the subconscious mind. In that case, one would have to embrace personalised programmes, like mindfulness and meditation, in order to reprogramme her/his subconscious mind. People who want to reprogramme their subconscious mind can seek professional help proactively, without any hesitation.
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