Can loneliness affects Your Mental Health: What to do?

Loneliness affects one’s mental health to a great extent. World Health Organization states that 1 in 4 older adults experience loneliness and between 5 to 15 per cent of adolescents experience loneliness which affects their mental health.

Mental health; a state of mental well-being has its very own importance in each individual’s life.

However, mental illnesses have become a leading cause of disability worldwide. And this COVID-19 pandemic has added a burden across the population.

What is loneliness doing?

Loneliness is one of the major public mental health issues. Evidence shows that loneliness is associated with  depression as well as certain other mental health problems. Across all ages and regions; anyone- anywhere can feel lonely.

There can be severe impacts of loneliness on health and lifespan. World Health Organization says that people who feel loneliness for longer durations:

1. More likely suffer with anxiety, depression, suicide and dementia
2. Have increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
3. Face a higher risk of early death.

Loneliness just not only harms the individuals but they have a severe negative impact on the society.

Why are people so lonely?

Some people find it difficult to adjust to certain changes in life. Some factors responsible are:

Work from home jobs

Children settling in different cities due to their studies/ jobs

Frequent change of school among kids

What can we do?

Some ways that can help reduce loneliness:

1. Bring older and younger generations together, where they can share dining and enjoy some recreational activities.
2. Gather for parties, movies, games etc
3. Form and participate in clubs
4. Maintaining healthy relationships among people
5. Engaging older adults in the community and other social groups.
6. Sharing a carpool

For a better mental health of the society, it is important that we bring together people from all the age groups and all regions to combat loneliness.

Source:- 

1. https://www.who.int/groups/commission-on-social-connection#:~:text=Anyone%2C anywhere%2C can be lonely,of our communities and society.

 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9636084/ 

3. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation