WHO Report Highlights Loneliness as Major Global Health Challenge
WHO Report Highlights Loneliness as Major Global Health Challenge
——————————–
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a landmark report revealing that one in six people worldwide suffers from loneliness, a condition linked to over 871,000 deaths annually, WHO website reported. The WHO Commission on Social Connection emphasizes that strong social bonds contribute to better health and longer life, while loneliness and social isolation pose serious risks to physical and mental well-being.
Loneliness, defined as the painful gap between desired and actual social connections, affects all age groups but is especially prevalent among youth and people in low- and middle-income countries. Between 17% and 21% of individuals aged 13 to 29 report feeling lonely, with rates nearly double in low-income countries compared to high-income nations. Social isolation, the objective lack of sufficient social interactions, impacts up to one-third of older adults and one-quarter of adolescents.
The report links loneliness to increased risks of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, and premature death. It also negatively affects education and employment outcomes, with lonely teenagers more likely to perform poorly academically and adults facing challenges in maintaining jobs.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that unaddressed loneliness will cost societies billions in healthcare and lost productivity. The Commission proposes a global roadmap focusing on policy change, research, improved measurement, public engagement, and community interventions to foster social connection.
The report urges governments, communities, and individuals to prioritize social connection as a public health imperative, encouraging simple actions like reaching out to others and strengthening social infrastructure to build healthier, more resilient societies.
