WHO warns that loneliness affects one in six people worldwide and causes more than 870,000 deaths each year.

One in six people worldwide is affected by loneliness, a problem that impacts mental health and contributes to an estimated 871,000 deaths annually, warns the first report from the commission created by the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat this growing contemporary phenomenon.

The Commission on Social Connection study, published Monday, reveals that loneliness and isolation affect people of all ages, including a third of older adults and a quarter of adolescents.

It also reveals that it is by no means a problem exclusive to developed countries: 24% of people in low-income economies suffer from it, compared to 11% in high-income countries. "In an era where the possibilities for connecting are endless, more and more people are feeling isolated and lonely," warned WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus when presenting the study.

The WHO chief stressed that loneliness and social isolation not only have negative effects on individuals, families, and communities, but also cause billions of dollars in losses in health, education, and employment costs.

According to the report, young people who suffer from loneliness are 22% more likely to have poor grades, and adults with this problem may struggle to keep their jobs.

Loneliness and isolation, the study highlights, increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, and premature death, in addition to affecting mental health, doubling the likelihood of suffering from depression.

The report by the commission chaired by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and African Union Special Envoy for Youth Chido Mpemba (Zimbabwe) emphasizes that the best remedy for combating these problems is social connection.

In addition to reducing the risk of serious illnesses, improving mental health, and limiting the risk of premature death, at the social level, it can create "healthier and more resilient communities, including in response to disasters," the report notes. To foster this social cohesion, the document presents various recommendations, including awareness-raising campaigns, strengthening infrastructure for social contact (parks, libraries, cafes), and increasing access to psychological care.

Tasks for everyone "Many people know what it's like to feel lonely, and everyone can contribute to alleviating it with simple, everyday actions, from helping a friend in need to being truly present in a conversation and putting down their cell phone, saying hello to a neighbor, joining a local group, or volunteering," suggests the UN health agency.

The report points to poor health, low income and education levels, insufficient community infrastructure, and digital technologies as the main factors contributing to loneliness. On this last point, the WHO commission urges monitoring the effects that excessive screen time or negative online interactions can have on mental health, especially among young people.

"As technology reshapes our lives, we must be vigilant to ensure it strengthens, rather than weakens, human connection ," added commission co-chair Mpemba. In 2023, when the WHO created the commission, it warned that loneliness was already as much a mortality factor as tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity, obesity, or air pollution.

"With this report, we have lifted the veil on loneliness and isolation, the defining challenge of our time," Co-Chair Murthy emphasized.