With the breakdown of the joint family system, rising migration, social media addiction and hectic lives, loneliness has become an epidemic
In a world of 24/7 internet connectivity and thousands of social media friends and followers, desolation would seem like a misplaced word. However, the loneliness epidemic is real and it is consuming the entire world. The British Government last year appointed a Minister of Loneliness to address the issue and according to a study, more than nine million people in England often or always felt alone. Similar demands for Government intervention have been raised in Australia.
With the breakdown of traditional joint families, increasing migration, growing disconnect and hectic city lives that leave little time for socialising, the alienation syndrome is creeping into Indian cities as well. Social media has further compounded the problem by allowing people to connect virtually anytime, thereby diminishing the importance of person-to-person contact. Around 56 million Indians are estimated to be suffering from depression, and there are roughly over 200,000 suicides annually.
Contrary to belief, lonesomeness is not something that impacts just the elderly. A study by a health insurance provider in the US found that millennials and Generation Z were in fact lonelier than older generations. In India, a 2017 study by Agewell Foundation across 300 districts found that a whopping 47.49 per cent of elderly people suffer from a feeling of isolation. While we do not have a similar survey or data for young Indians, trends in this category are expected to be similar. Understandably, the situation is more pronounced in urban centres where a large number of people live alone, away from the comfort of family and friends. A nationwide survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences in 2016 estimated that around 13.7 per cent of the population suffered from different mental illnesses, with around 10.6 per cent requiring immediate attention. The study concluded that residents from metro cities, where isolation and stress are more pronounced, had greater prevalence across different mental disorders.
Even more alarming is the fact that shrinking family sizes and breakdown of the joint family system, that provided a much-needed social cushion, have led to loneliness among children. Also, increasing migration and geographical dislocation result in a loss of identity among children. Long-term loneliness or lack of people-to-people connection also has harmful effects on physical health. Deficiencies in social relationships are associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke. Isolation is also associated with increased incidence of mental health issues like anxiety, depression and a suicidal tendency. It increases the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes. People who are lonely are also at higher risk of early death as compared to people with greater social connections.
In fact, a 2017 study found that social isolation and living alone boosted the chance of a premature death. Poor coping mechanisms, addictions and compulsive behaviour are found to be more common among people who are alone. Among the elderly, loneliness is also associated with increased cognitive decline and worsening of health. According to experts in the field of mental health, for those battling with the feeling of being alone, there is no better therapy than maintaining ties with immediate and extended family members.
While it is difficult to reverse social evolution, steps can be taken to help individuals better cope with being alone and find ways to strike real friendships. In the case of children and teenagers, parents need to spend quality time conversing with their offspring. More often than not, in their ambition to raise super achieving children, many parents tend to lose out on cultivating a human connection with their young. So, the kids spend the entire day running from school to coaching and activity classes. At the end of the day, there is little time left for having a real conversation with the child. It is important for parents to have a close (not just parental) but friendly connection with their children as daily conversations keep them invested in their growing up. Parents must also encourage children to develop bonds with extended family members on whom they can fall back upon in times of need.
People must guard against technologically-induced loneliness. Especially for those living alone, it is advisable not to seek excessive comfort in their digital device. Instead step out of the house, join a community or cultural organisation and make new friends. Also, given the hectic urban job culture, workplaces must strive to offer a better work-life balance to employees and institute regular availability of a counsellor to help staff cope with displacement and isolation.
(The writer is an expert in mental health and director of a wellness company)
