I think it is very likely Straits Times correspondents Chin Soo Fang and Judith Tan must drawn inspiration from the Beatles’ composition when they called their article published on 2/12/2023 “All the Lonely People”. Unlike positive solitude (which is by choice), lonely people (not by choice) suffer the pain of social isolation.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) conceives holistic health as a stool supported by three legs: physiological, mental, and social health. Social health is our ability to interact and form meaningful relationships with others. It is about how comfortably we adapt to social relationships.
Hence, social health is fundamental to human society. It forms the basis for our mental health. Social health and mental health go hand in hand. Mental health is focused on an individual; social health shows that link to the broader community – where we live our daily lives. The impact of social isolation has been well-documented since 1988. Back then, scientists showed the detrimental consequences of loneliness are comparable to smoking, lack of exercise, obesity, and high blood pressure. The most tragic end of loneliness is suicide.
We grow up in families and become part of a wider grouping of families – a community – schools, universities, and where we work. We integrate ourselves into these communities; we support the system, and the system supports us. The song Mr Lonely captures the discomfort we often feel from being disconnected from our friends and families. When we become disconnected from the system, we face tremendous challenges. One big problem is the loss of a sense of belonging.
In 2018, the UK became the first country to create a Ministry of Loneliness. In 2021, Japan followed suit. These countries’ high GDP per capita (implying a high standard of living) is no protection against the silent ravages of loneliness. We increasingly recognise that we cannot leave it to individuals to live socially healthy and active lives. The state has a responsibility to care for our rapidly ageing population, too. In Singapore, we are fortunate to have specialised agencies to cater for the well-being of senior citizens. They have a range of programmes designed to help seniors live physically active and socially connected lives in the community.
Whenever I write or talk about loneliness, someone invariably declares he (or she) prefers or loves being alone. I enjoy being alone, too, but there is a tremendous difference between the loneliness we cannot escape from and the solitude we choose. We can always return to being socially engaged after enjoying being alone. The reverse is not valid for those who are caught in loneliness.
So, where do all the lonely people come from? Where do they belong? They come from among us: our families, friends, and communities. We can help them to reconnect.
Vince
Dr Vincent Chong is a retired Professor of Radiology at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
