Social disconnection, which includes loneliness and social isolation, poses a serious, often overlooked threat to health and wellbeing. Nearly one in six people globally report feelings of loneliness, with even higher rates among adolescents and those in low-income countries. Between 2014 and 2019, loneliness caused over 871,000 deaths each year, highlighting its lethal potential. The World Health Organization emphasizes that social health is as vital as physical and mental health. A recent resolution and report advocate for urgent leadership and evidence-based strategies to combat social disconnection and strengthen community bonds.
Around the world, an invisible threat is increasing the risk of disease, shortening lives and fraying the fabric of our communities.
From 2014 to 2019, loneliness was associated with more than 871,000 deaths annually, equivalent to 100 deaths per hour.
Social health, our ability to form and maintain meaningful human connections, is just as essential to our wellbeing as physical and mental health.
The WHO’s Commission on Social Connection charts a clear path with evidence-based strategies to reverse the scourge of social disconnection.
#social-disconnection #health-and-wellbeing #loneliness #world-health-organization #community-health
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