The World Health Organization (WHO) firmly believes that loneliness represents an urgent threat to human health. Vivek Murthy, surgeon general of the United States, even compared its deadly effects to those of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
A commission created three years ago
The British newspaper reports it The Guardian, the WHO has just created an international commission that will examine the issue for the next three years. Led by Dr Vivek Murthy and African Union Youth Envoy Chido Mpemba, the commission is made up of 11 advocates and ministers, including Ayuko Kato, minister responsible for measures to combat loneliness and isolation in Japan.
Its creation, which takes place in a post-Covid-19 context, is not of little importance: the pandemic has blocked much of global economic and social activity, thus increasing the isolation of individuals and raising awareness of the extent of the phenomenon .
Nearby CaretakerMrs Mpemba returned to the system: “Loneliness crosses borders and is becoming a global public health problem affecting all aspects of health, well-being and development. Social isolation knows no age or boundaries. »
An underestimated health problem
For the latter it would be a serious public health problem, drastically underestimated.
Worse, the effects of loneliness would be as harmful as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than the risks associated with obesity and physical inactivity, analyzes Vivek Murthy.
As told in CaretakerAmong older people, loneliness is associated with a 50% increased risk of dementia and a 30% increased risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.
It is a phenomenon from which even young people are not exempt: it is estimated that 5 to 15% of adolescents feel alone, according to figures that are probably lower than reality. In Africa, 12.7% of adolescents suffer from loneliness, compared to 5.3% in Europe, according to the survey Caretaker : “ Young people who suffer from loneliness at school are more likely to drop out of university. Feeling disconnected and unsupported in a job can lead to lower job satisfaction and performance. »
For Mrs Mpemba it becomes urgent “redefining the conversation about loneliness” to effectively counter this global phenomenon.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
