Today,
people of the world are connected to each other like they have never
been before. A farmer in Kenya can befriend a fisherman in China, while a young girl from Europe can exchange the latest
fashion trends with her peers in Africa. In other words, our world is
a very different, much more socially active place than it was a century
ago.
Our
acquaintances are no longer limited to families, neighbours or
colleagues. Limitless options offered by the age of the Internet and
communications seem to have brought everyone closer.
But,
how is it possible that despite all the connection possibilities
offered by the Internet, people feel lonelier than ever? It is clear
that our reliance on technology increases every day, but it is also
obvious that social technology or virtual communication doesn’t really
replace actual, face-to- face interaction. Nevertheless, people continue
to turn to false and less rewarding forms of communication.
Many
young people today, instead of spending time with friends, choose to
get behind a computer monitor where it is safer to be in the presence of
virtual friends. It is not unusual for people to have thousands of
virtual friends on the Internet, but not even know who lives next door.
Similarly, most people don’t feel the need to visit their relatives any
more and instead choose to seek solace in the company of their Internet
associations or pets.
However,
this is a dangerous trend. According to studies, loneliness can
increase the risk of mortality by 26 per cent and when it becomes a long
term issue, it can be more dangerous than smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Feeling lonely negatively affects mental health and can
lead to feelings of depression.
This
is not surprising. Scientists discovered that social pain can be just
as real as physical pain, because physical pain and loneliness activate
the same parts of the brain.
It
is clear that this is a problem that we need to tackle urgently. People
are not created to be alone; we need to socialise and interact with
others. This is also the only way for young people to develop healthily
and properly. Unless the epidemic of loneliness is addressed now, it is
not too difficult to imagine the problem becoming more severe within the
next couple of decades. Young people who are growing up with this sense
of loneliness will soon be running the world and their mental health
and stability should not be compromised by feeling of loneliness and
isolation, matters that can be easily addressed.
Naturally,
loneliness has an even worse effect on the elderly. Millions of seniors
around the world struggle with lonely lives because they’ve been
abandoned either by their families or society.
Depression
and dementia are usually associated with isolation and loneliness, and
many suffer these problems only because society and their families fail
to show them the required affection and take care of them. However, for
every problem there is a solution and loneliness is certainly not an
unsolvable one.
First
of all, it is important to prevent the constant inculcation of
self-centred and materialistic ideas. Instead, people should be
encouraged to be more attentive, caring and selfless. They should
understand the health benefits of showing affection, care, and having
real, physical socialisation. This awareness should be supported with
campaigns informing people of the health hazards of loneliness in
addition to their future implications for the societies.
Nursing
homes could be built on the same premises as universities so that these
two groups at the two edges of the age gap can interact. In this way,
young people will be able to benefit from the invaluable life
experiences of seniors, while senior citizens are saved from the trap of
loneliness and can enjoy their later years in the presence of good
company.
Britain
particularly suffered from the problem and responded by setting up a
ministry in charge of tackling isolation and loneliness. Theresa May
announced that Tracey Crouch, whose official title is the Minister for
Sport and Civil Society, will be working on a national strategy to
address loneliness across all ages. It is also reported that the
ministry will devise methods to measure loneliness and set up a fund to
develop a wider strategy to solve the issue.
It is clear that LONELINESS should not be left unchecked.
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