Loneliness is silently killing hundreds of thousands of people each year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned, revealing that over 871,000 people die annually due to loneliness-related complications.
The WHO’s latest report describes loneliness as a growing epidemic. It affects one in six people across the world—fuelled by broken social bonds, rising digital habits, and dwindling real-life interactions.
“Loneliness is a painful, subjective feeling that many of us experience when the relationships that we need do not match the relationships that we have,” said Dr. Vivek Murthy, co-chair of the WHO Commission.
Loneliness Harms the Body and the Mind
The report links loneliness to serious health problems. These include higher risks of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and even suicide.
For young people, the effects are also troubling. Lonely teenagers are “22% more likely to achieve lower grades than their peers,” the report found.
Adults dealing with loneliness are more likely to struggle with job loss, difficulty finding employment, or poor performance at work.
WHO also warns of the broader cost to society—billions lost in healthcare and reduced economic productivity due to disconnected individuals and communities.
Sweden Steps Up with Bold National Strategy
Sweden has become one of the first countries to treat loneliness as a societal issue. Social Minister Jakob Forssmed explained that the government is actively creating opportunities for people to reconnect.
Shops, neighbourhood clubs, and local restaurants are being redesigned as spaces to encourage face-to-face contact.
“Loneliness is not just an individual problem. It affects society as a whole,” Forssmed said.
To help the youth, Sweden plans to issue prepaid cards to children and teens, usable only for group activities. The goal is to pull them into shared experiences and reduce isolation.
The country also intends to ban mobile phones in public schools. Research shows this leads to better sleep, reduced cyberbullying, and increased physical social interaction.
“Children are often frustrated when their parents are constantly distracted by their phones,” Forssmed added.
Digital Dependence Weakens Human Connection
The WHO Commission found that excessive use of digital technology has replaced natural forms of connection—body language, tone of voice, and even silence.
Dr. Murthy said, “Humans have communicated for millennia not only through words but also through facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and silence.”
He warned that relying too heavily on social media and phones strips away these essential cues, making real emotional closeness more difficult.
One in three elderly people and one in four teenagers are now considered socially isolated, according to the report. The causes are broad: illness, poverty, lack of education, low income, and living alone.
Creating Spaces for Real Human Contact
The WHO believes reversing this trend requires more than just reducing screen time. There must be intentional, structured efforts to rebuild in-person communities.
Murthy stressed, “Having places and spaces in our life where we can interact face to face with other people without the distraction of technology is very important.”
The commission encourages nations to follow Sweden’s example—integrating loneliness into national health agendas, reforming social spaces, and rebuilding the human connections that technology has weakened.
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