One In Six Affected: WHO Urges Nations To Treat Loneliness As A Public Health Priority

In a world where smartphones ping with constant notifications, timelines overflow with filtered smiles, and virtual meetings stretch across continents, a devastating truth has emerged: Loneliness is no longer just a private sorrow; it is a public health crisis claiming more than 871,000 lives each year—that’s over 100 deaths every hour with one in six people worldwide affected by loneliness.

These are the startling revelations in a report prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) Commission on Social Connection released recently, laying bare the fact that despite living in an era of unprecedented digital connectivity, millions are silently suffering in emotional isolation.

“In this age when the possibilities to connect are endless, it is troubling that more and more people are finding themselves isolated and lonely,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The consequences are grave. Loneliness is now clinically linked to a sharp increase in stroke, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline, and early death. It is as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Yet, it remains overlooked, underestimated, and dangerously under-addressed.

Dr. Vivek Murthy, Co-chair of the Commission and former Surgeon General of the United States, described the report as a call to action: “We pull back the curtain on loneliness and isolation as a defining challenge of our time. The roadmap we propose could change the course of global public health.”

This epidemic knows no demographic boundaries. It afflicts the young, the old, the poor, and the privileged. According to the report, 17–21% of adolescents and young adults aged 13–29 say they feel persistently lonely—despite being the most digitally active generation in history.

Ironically, technology designed to bring people together may be driving them apart. Excessive screen time, negative online interactions, and social comparison on platforms like Instagram and TikTok have been linked to anxiety, depression, and emotional detachment.

At the other end of the spectrum, up to one in three older adults are grappling with social isolation—cut off from support systems by nuclear family trends, urban migration, and an ever-widening digital divide. The burden of loneliness is even heavier for society’s most marginalised—people with disabilities, migrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, refugees, and ethnic minorities. These groups face layers of discrimination, cultural alienation, and limited access to safe, inclusive public spaces, as per the report.

“Even in a digitally connected world, many young people feel alone,” said Chido Mpemba, Co-chair of the Commission and Youth Advisor to the African Union.

“As technology reshapes our lives, we must ensure it strengthens—not weakens—human connection.”

Loneliness does not only break hearts; it breaks economies too, as per the report. Left unaddressed, the WHO warns, social isolation could cost countries billions in healthcare, lost productivity, poor educational outcomes, and long-term unemployment. For instance, lonely teenagers are 22% more likely to perform poorly in school, and lonely adults are less likely to find or retain jobs.

At a macro level, communities plagued by disconnection suffer from eroded trust, weakened resilience, and fractured social cohesion—especially during crises such as natural disasters or pandemics.

The report observation holds significance for India where the crisis is especially visible in urban centres, where many elderly people live alone, dependent on distant children and impersonal digital caregiving platforms.

Delhi-based JR Gupta, President of Senior Citizen Council in India agrees with the report’s observation saying that old people are more likely to have lost friends and family members, and they are more likely to experience medical or physical limitations that restrict their opportunities for activities and socializing.

Gupta says that on their part they have been organising various tours and get together events so that their elder members do not feel that they are alone in their travail. “Sharing reduces the pain of loneliness,” he asserts.

Adding to the growing body of concern, Dr. R.K. Dhamija, senior neurologist and Director of the Institute of Behaviour and Human Allied Sciences (IBHAS), Delhi, underlined that loneliness is not only a symptom of mental health disorders but also a potent cause.

“It can both precede and follow conditions like depression, anxiety, or neurodegenerative disorders,” Dr. Dhamija said. “At times, loneliness may even act as a trigger for lifestyle changes—people may start joining fitness classes or seeking adventure outdoors to break the cycle.”

He also emphasised the need to distinguish loneliness from solitude—terms often used interchangeably but fundamentally different in psychological impact.

“Being alone doesn’t always mean being lonely,” he clarified. “Solitude, when chosen, can foster creativity, self-reflection, and personal growth. It allows individuals to carve out their own emotional and intellectual space, which is crucial for developing a healthy sense of self.”

The WHO’s in its report has outlined roadmap to address this silent epidemic. It includes five urgent action areas: Policy development to make social connection a public health priority; robust research to guide interventions; community-led solutions such as inclusive parks, libraries, and cafés; Improved global measurement tools like a Social Connection Index; and public engagement to shift societal norms and end the stigma of loneliness.

“Social connection is a fundamental human need—just like food, water, and shelter. Ignoring it will come at a deadly cost,” the report concludes.

Clearly, no technology, no app, no algorithm can replace the healing power of genuine human connection.