A silent scourge
It has been known for a long time that loneliness is a significant issue for many people over 65. But there is a growing awareness that other groups, such as young people and minorities, may be suffering even more.
Surveys carried out by Stats NZ show women are more likely than men to feel lonely at least some of the time. But it is groups such as the unemployed, single parents, young people, Māori and those on low incomes who struggle the most.
Unsurprisingly, loneliness soared during the Covid pandemic, with many countries limiting social interactions and imposing strict lockdowns. But concerns predate the pandemic.
In 2018, the UK government was the first to appoint a “minister for loneliness”, and in 2021, Japan followed suit. The UK’s current minister, Stuart Andrew, has just launched a campaign that aims to reduce the stigma of loneliness by encouraging young people, in particular, to talk about it.
A local charity, Loneliness NZ, was formed in 2018 to help combat the issue here. Its co-founder, management consultant Spencer Scoular, now chairs the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection, an international body that links Loneliness NZ with similar charities in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, Germany, Japan, the UK and the US
Those involved in the field point out that loneliness and social isolation are not necessarily the same thing. A Treasury report from 2021 noted, for example, that people in rainbow communities reported high rates of social connection, but were also the loneliest group surveyed.
The mental stress caused by loneliness is well understood. But it may have physical effects, too. A study carried out in 2019, for example, appeared to show that social isolation may literally shrink your brain.
The study involved scanning the brains of eight German workers before and after they completed a 14-month stint in Antarctica. The scans showed the part of their brains responsible for spatial thinking and memory shrank by up to 10% during their mission.
Although no follow-up has been reported, the researchers said at the time they didn’t believe the damage would be long-lasting. The hippocampus is known to be highly responsive to stimulation, so it was expected the workers’ brains would grow again once they returned home.