Loneliness injurious to health and economy

'Loneliness is such a sad affair,' goes the Carpenters song, underlining the fundamental difference between 'being alone' as a matter of choice for those who value privacy, and 'feeling lonely', that can be a gateway to clinical depression in extreme cases. Modern life provides challenges for both the private person as well as the isolated. The latter condition got the seriousness it deserves earlier this week with US surgeon general Vivek Murthy's exposition about the health and economic costs of loneliness. He is serious.

Loneliness is neither a 'first world' problem nor an age-related one. Its drivers and manifestations may vary, but the deleterious impact of loneliness is global. Which is why countries as distinct as Britain and Japan have a ministry of loneliness. India, too, grapples with it. A 2004 National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) report found 4.91 million persons suffering from loneliness.

There is a connection between mental health issues and non-communicable diseases and the loss of social connections. In a hyperconnected world, loneliness seems to be a paradox. Yet, the overdependence on a harem of devices and social media have exacerbated isolation. This does not, however, mean a need to eschew modern living. Rather, it is necessary to create equitable opportunities through policy and physical and social infrastructure that promote social connections. Options like volunteer groups that increase engagement, designing cities that focus on usability, public transport and public spaces, creating parks and playgrounds, provide the opportunity for people to interact and connect. 'No (hu)man is an island, entire of itself,' John Donne reminds us in our 'hyperconnected'-disconnected age. We must rewire our lives to recognise this.