Dr Yousuf Ali Al mulla
We usually hear about lonely individuals and effects of loneliness, but do we know about it and are there signs of solidarity with people who feel lonely or isolated especially nowadays due to coronavirus pandemic? Hence, the importance of the subject and the development in our contemporary generation was important to shed light on it, even in a short form.
The evidence is striking. Feeling lonely can pose a bigger risk for premature death than smoking or obesity, not only that but studies have suggested that depression linked to seclusion, in addition to associated poorer cardiovascular health and, in old age, a faster rate of cognitive decline and dementia is repositioning loneliness as a public health issue.
Just looking at the real concept from psychological point of view, there are two distinct types of loneliness, known as social isolation and loneliness. Social isolation is just as it seems, people in this category lack a strong network of support, including friends, family, or close ties. On the other hand, people who fall into the category of loneliness, may seem to have healthy social contact, but they do not really have emotional or practical support. They feel isolated even though they are not literally alone.
Moreover tracing different studies, which explained that loneliness can affect people at any point, but is more common among two groups: older individuals aged 75 and above and, perhaps surprisingly, among young people aged 15–25.
On other way, when I looked to our self or our people, With great new technologies and extensive use of social media, we are more connected than ever before. But as a folk, we are lonelier. Here ,I looked to one of the studies that really show the risk of being lonely or such individual who isolate himself from surrounding , has been estimated to shorten a person’s life by 15 years, equivalent in impact to being obese or smoking 15 cigarettes per day. It is logical that social isolation may impose stress on our minds and bodies that has a significant impact on health with time.
On other hand, we need to tackle our social problem, otherwise we’ll wind up failing to target the people who are most in need of help. We do observe and hear that the poor, unemployed, displaced and for instance migrant populations in other part of world, that stand to suffer the most from loneliness and isolation which need the public and government awareness!
Not only this, while poor health may be associated with increased feelings of loneliness, there is now considerable evidence on the role of loneliness as a risk factor for poor mental and physical health. Studies show that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and chronic diseases.
I do encourage engagement in some form of therapy, whether group or individual therapy, to address the underlying issues leading to loneliness, in addition to cognitive behavioral therapy which might be helpful. Nevertheless, we need to look at how we could approach the issue of loneliness for the most disadvantaged in the community first. And here I put emphasis on critical point and loudly I say it, as we need to realize it , as that most effective way to reduce loneliness is to make people feel connected to their community.
Of course, not everyone who lives alone are lonely and not everyone live alone can we say that he has developed common mental disorder!
At last, we need to increase awareness; a more robust public discussion and local efforts can have a huge impact on prevention especially nowadays and after COVID-19 pandemic. It is up to us to make that happen!
The writer is a physician, medical innovator and writer.
