Britain is combating one of society’s biggest modern health problems — social isolation — by appointing a « minister for loneliness. »
Britain is combating one of society’s biggest modern health problems — social isolation — by appointing a « minister for loneliness. »
Her name is Tracey Crouch, and her position was officially announced by the British government on Wednesday. Crouch, whose official title is Minister for Sport and Civil Society, is tasked with coming up with a strategy to combat feelings of isolation for people of all ages and to figure out a way to measure the varying degrees of alienation in a statistical format, according to a statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister, Theresa May.
« I want to confront this challenge for our society and for all of us to take action to address the loneliness endured by the elderly, by carers, by those who have lost loved ones, people who have no one to talk to or share their thoughts and experiences with, » May said in the statement .
The new role was created after recent research in the UK found that about one in 10 people « always or often » felt lonely and that 200,000 elderly people have not had a conversation with a friend or relative in over a month.
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« We know that there is a real impact of social isolation and loneliness on people, on their physical and mental well-being but also on other aspects in society and we want to tackle this challenge, » Crouch said on the BBC .
Nearly 43 million Americans over the age of 45 suffer from chronic loneliness, according to a 2010 AARP study, which is in line with a recent U. S. census report that revealed more than 25% of the population lives alone and half is unmarried, NBC reported. Marriage rates and the number of children per household have declined since the last census as well, according to an American Psychological Association report from last summer.
« (Living alone has) a significant and equal effect on the risk of premature death… one that was equal to or exceeded the effect of other well-accepted risk factors such as obesity, » psychology professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad advised the APA of its findings.
The « minister of loneliness » position was the primary recommendation of a report put together in 2017 in memory of slain lawmaker Jo Cox, who was murdered in 2016 by a neo-Nazi terrorist. Cox was an advocate for those affected by isolation and loneliness during her time serving the British Parliament. Her widower, Brendan Cox, tweeted his support of the new role early Wednesday.
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« One of the awful things about losing Jo is knowing how much difference she would have made in the world, » Cox wrote . « When the kids wake up this morning I’m going to tell them how — even though she’s not here — she’s still making the world a better place. »
