Context: The World Health Organization has declared loneliness a "pressing health threat", and has launched a new commission to foster social connection as a priority in all countries.

• WHO declares Loneliness as a pressing global health threat with a mortality effect equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Key Points

• COVID-19 and its social and economic repercussions have vandalised social connections.

• To counter this, WHO has launched a new commission on loneliness that aims to develop comprehensive strategies like promoting social connections and developing policies to mitigate the effects of loneliness. 

Impacts

• Absence of social connection posed a greater risk of early death.

• People without enough strong social connections are at higher risk of stroke, anxiety, dementia, depression, and suicide.

• Social isolation and loneliness can lead to poor economic & educational outcomes. 

Loneliness in the Indian context

• Diverse population and vast socioeconomic disparities causing feeling of isolation. 

• Nuclear families increase the prevalence of loneliness among the elderly.

• Over reliance on social media causing superficial relationships and a sense of disconnection among the youngsters. 

• Instant gratification feeling makes youngsters more isolated.