[Exclusive] WHO to Create Global Index to Address 'Isolation Issues' [Youth Isolation 24 Hours]

The international organization that was busiest during the global COVID-19 crisis was undoubtedly the World Health Organization (WHO). In May last year, 3 years and 3 months after declaring the pandemic, WHO announced the end of the emergency. Then, just six months later in November of the same year, WHO created the 'Commission on Social Connection' to respond to another urgent health threat. This was because loneliness and social isolation had worsened to the point that the international community needed to step in beyond individual countries.

Through this commission, WHO has begun work on creating a Global Index on Social Connection that governments can use as a benchmark. They also plan to develop guidelines containing methods to prevent and address loneliness and social isolation.

World Health Organization (WHO) logo [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

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The commission, consisting of about ten key policymakers from regions including the United States, Zimbabwe, Japan, Sweden, and Chile, will focus on measures to tackle loneliness and social isolation over three years. The commission is co-chaired by Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General who pointed out that "loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day," and Chido Mpemba, the African Union (AU) Youth Envoy. One of their goals is to create an index that allows comparison of social connection status by country. Asia Economy asked Dr. Christopher Mixton, Technical Lead of the WHO Commission on Social Connection, about what they aim to do to solve the isolation problem.

Christopher Mikton, Technical Officer in charge of the Social Connections Committee at the World Health Organization (WHO) (Photo by WHO)

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- What is the reason WHO created the 'Commission on Social Connection'?

▲ In recent years, this issue has rapidly emerged as a public health and public policy agenda mainly in high-income countries such as the UK, Japan, the US, and Germany. Another reason is that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of social relationships. At the same time, a wealth of scientific evidence has emerged explaining how lack of social relationships impacts mortality and physical and mental health. Rapid technological changes, especially the impact of social media on social relationships, have become a global concern, but there has been no concrete, cooperative global response. Therefore, WHO decided to establish this commission to discuss and address the issue of social relationships.

- Please explain the term 'social connection' included in the commission's name. What does WHO mean by social connection?

▲ Broadly, it relates to feeling close to or connected with others. One can view how an individual is connected to society from three perspectives. The first is a structural perspective, referring to the social roles assigned to an individual or the scale of their social interactions. The second is a functional perspective, which means the practical, emotional, and informational support provided by social connection. Lastly, the quality of relationships is also considered.

- The commission held its first meeting last December. What discussions took place?

▲ The members agreed on the commission’s vision and purpose. The vision is to create a world where everyone has quality social connections that support their health and well-being. To achieve this, the commission aims to make social connection visible and prioritize it in policy. They also want to establish loneliness and social isolation as genuine global public health issues affecting all ages worldwide and support the expansion of cost-effective solutions.

They also agreed on priorities, including releasing the first report next year, generating political will and public awareness, forming coalitions, and mobilizing resources. Simultaneously, they will focus on expanding national and community activities that enhance social connection and take measures to reduce loneliness and social isolation.

- Is there a difference between 'social isolation' and 'loneliness'?

▲ Social isolation refers to being socially disconnected or having insufficient social connections. It is an objective state indicating a lack of quantity in social connections and can be relatively easily measured. However, there is ongoing discussion about what exactly constitutes 'insufficient.' Loneliness, like social isolation, is a form of social disconnection but includes a subjective state involving negative experiences often called 'social pain.' Loneliness arises from a discrepancy between the social connections one desires or needs and the actual social relationships one has, in terms of quantity or quality.

- There is currently no global index to measure or compare loneliness or social isolation.

▲ WHO plans to develop several norms within the next three years to help countries respond to social isolation and strengthen societies. They will create a 'Global Index on Social Connection' and guidelines containing methods to prevent and address loneliness and social isolation. Having a global index will allow comparable data on the scale of social isolation and loneliness affecting all ages worldwide, enabling incremental progress.

- Will the WHO Commission on Social Connection look into loneliness and social isolation among young people?

▲ The commission plans to address loneliness and social isolation across the lifespan, paying attention to both youth and elderly populations. Co-chair Chido Mpemba serves as the African Union Youth Envoy. WHO is currently collecting evidence related to youth and social connection, loneliness, and social isolation. The findings will be included in the commission’s report to be released in the first half of next year. This report will highlight all key issues related to youth.

- What efforts will WHO make to foster social connection?

▲ WHO plans to raise public awareness globally and elevate policy priorities on this issue. Since loneliness and social isolation are as serious as well-known health problems like smoking, excessive drinking, lack of exercise, obesity, and air pollution in terms of mortality and disease rates, WHO aims to establish them as urgent global public health issues.

They also intend to identify cost-effective solutions and mobilize resources to expand these solutions across low-, middle-, and high-income countries. This includes broad social-level interventions such as laws and policies addressing discrimination and exclusion, community-level interventions improving infrastructure like public transportation and built environments, and individual or relational-level interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy that changes thoughts and feelings of those prone to loneliness.

'Check your risk level for loneliness and social isolation'

- Loneliness and Social Isolation Scale

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