By Joke Kujenya
NEARLY ONE million deaths worldwide are now tied to loneliness, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has raised alarm over the escalating health toll of social isolation.
One in six people worldwide is affected, as loneliness and social isolation drive up the risk of strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and suicide.
The new figures from the WHO Commission show that at least 871,000 deaths annually are now linked to prolonged social disconnection.
Also, teenagers experiencing loneliness are 22percent more likely to fall behind academically, while adults report difficulty maintaining or securing employment.
The WHO has warned of widespread economic consequences, with billions lost to healthcare burdens and reduced workplace productivity.
Co-chair of the WHO Commission, Vivek Murthy, described loneliness as “a painful, subjective feeling” when a person’s social needs fail to match reality.
In contrast, he defined social isolation as the objective absence of meaningful relationships or daily interactions.
One in three older people and one in four adolescents are now considered socially isolated, with root causes ranging from illness and poverty to digital overexposure and urban solitude.
Reliance on screens over human connection, Murthy warned, strips away vital non-verbal cues like tone, gesture and silence.
The WHO pointed to Sweden as a model of intervention.
According to the agency, there, a national strategy against loneliness is being actively implemented.
As noted by Swedish Social Minister Jakob Forssmed, children and teenagers will soon receive prepaid leisure activity cards, valid only for group bookings, to stimulate social connection.
WHO says plans are also underway to ban mobile phones in public schools.
Early studies had actually suggested this has already improved sleep patterns and reduced incidents of cyberbullying, while encouraging real-world friendships.
Forssmed also said many children express frustration over their parents’ digital distractions, further amplifying intergenerational disconnect.
The WHO then urged nations to create physical spaces where people can gather without technological interference.
WHO’s Murthy further stressed the long-term importance of building communities that prioritise real interaction.
“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,” he said.
