The Hidden Global Epidemic
What is Social Isolation and Loneliness?
Digital technologies have profoundly changed the way we interact with each other. The internet with all its applicability, such as smart devices, social media platforms and messaging apps, have become fundamental to our lives.
Consequently, living in this digital age means that we are more connected than any previous generation, which is very positive, because we can call our neighbour next door just as quickly as someone thousands of kilometres away. Yet beneath this facade, there is a growing loneliness epidemic.
We spend extensive hours connecting online, only to spend days alone without speaking to another person. Social isolation is the state of complete or near-complete lack of contact between an individual and the society. Social isolation is exacerbating loneliness, yet it is distinct from loneliness, because loneliness is a temporary feeling of disconnection.
Social isolation can result from limited social networks and unfulfilling relationships, leading to a lack of meaningful connections with others. However, it has been concluded that online connections and relationships cannot alleviate loneliness, because those relationships often lack the physical and emotional support that comes from spending time with people you care about, resulting in a vicious cycle.
The Hidden Global Epidemic
Social isolation and loneliness may seem like outlying experiences, but they are impacting far more people than we could ever imagine.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said nearly 1 in every 6 people globally is now experiencing social isolation and loneliness. This affects people of all ages, but the most vulnerable are adolescents and young people. The harsher truth is that loneliness isn’t simply an individual, mental issue but also has far reaching effects on physical health.
An advisory report from the US Surgeon General’s office found that long-term isolation and loneliness increases our risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression and anxiety. Social media may make us feel like we are a part of a bigger community, but really it has also contributed to increasingly individualised subcultures on the digital space which can in-turn make you feel more alone. Many people today would rather express their deepest emotions and thoughts to an AI chatbot than talk to a friend.
Global Data: Scope of the problem
Reports from various global organisations paint a distressing picture for our future.
- World Health Organisation (WHO): More than a billion people alive right now are affected by social isolation and/or loneliness. WHO estimates that loneliness contributes to over 871.000 people every year.
- Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): In the US alone, about one in every three people is experiencing severe loneliness. Certain attributes also increase the risk factor for social isolation and loneliness, including having chronic mental and/or physical disabilities, being marginalised or discriminated against, having access to limited resources such as public spaces that foster connection and group events and being a victim of trauma or abuse.
What Can we Do to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness?
It can be incredibly difficult to come out of a long period of isolation and loneliness, but we can act now. Both on the individual and group level there are actionable steps that can be taken to reduce the risks.
For Individuals:
- Talk and reach out: reach out to friends and family and ensure you make plans to meet in person to spend quality time together.
- Challenge yourself to speak to someone new: challenge yourself to have small conversations with people around you. For example, strike up small interactions with your neighbour, the local shopkeeper or the chef at your local restaurant. Even a small 2-minute conversation will help to break you out of your shell.
- Find community: use your online resources to find communities of like-minded people. Apps like Meetup are great for this. You can find your local run club, reading group or even spiritual community.
- Physical self-care: avoid spending your whole day indoors. This is especially difficult for remote workers who spend their whole day sedentary, working on a computer for hours. Even a half an hour walk in the park can make the difference.
- Seek support: are you experiencing mental health issues like depression, anxiety or PTSD? Don’t hesitate to seek support. Professional counselling and therapy are always available; which can be vulnerable, therefore, you can also try joining a group, such as group sessions where multiple people can share their experience and build a support community.
For Communities:
- Create buddy initiatives: initiatives that allow people from all ages to buddy up with each other can provide invaluable experience and connections. For example, for the younger generation who lack acceptance and social support, meeting with someone older from their community can be the difference needed to take them out of a life-or-death situation.
- Build more public spaces: for most people, they mainly have two spaces for interaction, the private space of their own home and their work or educational institution. Therefore, we need to create more third spaces to foster social interactions outside of professional or academic ones. Having access to public parks, libraries, outdoor markets and so on are immensely useful to reducing social isolation.
Call to Action
At The Responsibles Foundation, we believe that impactful communities are built on real relationships. As we work to design our Community Hub and Sustainable Compounds, we put social connection at the heart of everything we do, through shared spaces, group activities, mutual support, and networks of care.
Nonetheless, we cannot do it alone.
We invite you, individuals, families, communities, and organizations, to join our mission. Whether by supporting our projects, volunteering your time, or simply reaching out to someone who may need a friend, you can help turn the tide on loneliness.
Visit our website to learn more about our work, see how you can get involved, together, we can create places where no one is ever truly alone and where every person feels they belong.
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