Manchester expert helps shape landmark WHO report on global loneliness crisis

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Manchester expert helps shape landmark WHO report on global loneliness crisis

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for urgent action to tackle what it calls a global crisis of loneliness and social disconnection, in a new reportinformed by the research of Professor Pamela Qualter from The University of Manchester.

Strikingly, the report reveals that an estimated one in six people worldwide experienced loneliness between 2014 and 2023, with the highest rates found among adolescents aged 13-17 (20.9%) and young adults aged 18-29 (17.4%). This heightened prevalence in younger age groups may be due to the high expectations for social connections during these crucial developmental years.

The impacts of social disconnection are profound. For young people, it is linked to increased risks of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, reduced life satisfaction and poor academic performance.

The report also highlights that chronic, long-lasting loneliness is strongly linked to poorer health outcomes including increased risks of cardiovascular disease, depression, cognitive decline and even early death.

While digital technology offers ways to connect, the report urges caution - particularly regarding its potential adverse effects on the mental health and wellbeing of young people, including risks from excessive social media use and cyberbullying.

The report does have a message of hope - it highlights existing effective and practical strategies to foster social connection including psychological interventions, social skills training in schools and community-based activities. It also states that governments around the world are now starting to recognise and prioritise the issue of loneliness by developing national policies and strategies.

Professor Pamela Qualter, a renowned expert in loneliness research, served as a co-chair of the WHO Commission on Social Connection's Technical Advisory Group. Her extensive research on the experiences of loneliness across the lifespan, including significant work on children and adolescents, was integral in shaping the report's findings and recommendations.