The new minister for loneliness

A British Medical Journal report points out that an analysis of 148 studies has found social isolation, loneliness, or living alone had a significant effect on the risk of premature death – one that was equal to other risk factors such as obesity and smoking.

Lead author Julianne HoltLunstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University in the US, described a loneliness epidemic with a huge public health impact.

So three cheers for Tracey Crouch, the UK’s very first minister for loneliness. A commission on this problem was set up after the murder of MP Jo Cox who was interested in helping people suffering from it.

There’s a wealth of statistics on the subject: 58% of migrants and refugees in London described loneliness and isolation as their biggest challenge, and 43% of 17- to 25-year-olds who used Action for Children services experienced loneliness, as did eight out of 10 carers.

Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, told last year’s annual conference: “GPs see patients, many of whom are widowed, who have multiple health problems like diabetes, hypertension and depression. But often their main problem isn’t medical: they’re lonely.”

Her theory is backed up by data: according to the American Journal of Public Health, chronic loneliness is associated with significantly more visits to the doctor.