‘From Loneliness to Social Connection: Charting a Path To Healthier Societies’ Report Released

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This report by the WHO (World Health Organisation) Commission on Social Connection highlights the impact of social isolation and loneliness on health, well-being, and society.

What is Social Connection and Disconnection?

An infographic highlighting drivers of social isolation and loneliness

Social connection is about the many ways we relate to and interact with others and it includes family, friends, classmates, coworkers, neighbours.
Social disconnection occurs when a person doesn’t have enough social contact, doesn’t feel supported by the relationships, or have strained or negative relationships. Forms of social disconnection includes:
- Loneliness (discrepancy between one’s desired and actual experiences of connection) and
- Social Isolation (having very few relationships or not seeing people often enough).

Key Highlights of Report

Widespread Social Disconnection: About 1 in 6 people feel lonely (2014–2023) with young people (ages 13-29) feeling the loneliest.
- Up to 1 in 3 older adults (between 1990-2022) while about 1 in 4 teenagers (between 2003-2018) are socially isolated.
Disparities: In low-income countries, about 24% of people feel lonely while in richer countries, 11% feel lonely.
Impacts of Social Disconnection: Physical Health (about 871,000 global deaths (2014–2019) linked to loneliness), Mental Health (Depression, Anxiety, Dementia etc.), Socio-Economic (Poor Academic Performance and Productivity Loss).

Roadmap for Improving Social Connection

Policy: National Policy to encourage social connection as adopted by Eight countries including Denmark, Finland and Germany.
Research: Building global and national research capacity and launch Grand Challenges in Social Connection.
Interventions: Launch an intervention accelerator and strengthen social infrastructure (community spaces and services).
Improved Measurement: Developing a global Social Connection Index.
Public Engagement: Large public campaigns, events, group activities and social prescribing (suggestion by doctors to participate in community activities).