As per a report by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in 2004, 4.91 million people in India experience loneliness.

The difference between choosing to be alone and feeling lonely is significant. Loneliness can lead to clinical depression, and in extreme cases, can be a gateway to it. Modern life poses challenges to both private individuals and those who feel isolated. US surgeon general Vivek Murthy’s recent exposition on the health and economic costs of loneliness underscores the seriousness of the latter condition.

Loneliness: A Gateway to Clinical Depression

Loneliness has serious health and economic costs. It is a problem that affects people worldwide, and governments must take action to address it. The connection between social connections and mental health underscores the importance of creating policies and infrastructure that promote social interaction. By creating opportunities for people to connect, we can reduce the number of people suffering from loneliness and its associated problems.

Global Impact of Loneliness

Loneliness is not a problem exclusive to the developed world, nor is it age-related. The drivers and manifestations of loneliness may vary, but its deleterious impact is felt worldwide. Countries as distinct as Britain and Japan have created ministries of loneliness to address the issue, and India also grapples with it. According to a 2004 National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) report, 4.91 million people in India suffer from loneliness.

The Connection Between Mental Health and Social Connections

There is a connection between mental health issues, non-communicable diseases, and the loss of social connections. In a hyperconnected world, loneliness seems paradoxical. However, an over-dependence on devices and social media has worsened isolation. It is not necessary to reject modern living; rather, we must create equitable opportunities through policy and physical and social infrastructure that promote social connections.

Promoting Social Connections

Creating opportunities for people to interact and connect can help reduce loneliness. Volunteer groups that increase engagement, designing cities that focus on usability, public transport and public spaces, and creating parks and playgrounds, are all options that can provide opportunities for people to interact and connect. John Donne’s reminder that “no man is an island, entire of itself” is especially relevant in our current “hyperconnected“-disconnected age. It is time to rewire our lives to recognize the importance of social connections.

Also Read: Loneliness: Key Reasons And Effective Strategies For Overcoming