Loneliness has been declared as a pressing global health threat with a mortality effect equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The world organisation has now launched an international commission on the problem — led by U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, and the African Union youth envoy, Chido Mpemba — of 11 advocates and government ministers, including Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change Adaptation in Vanuatu, and Ayuko Kato, Minister in-charge of measures for loneliness and isolation in Japan.
The new commission on social connection aims to address loneliness as a pressing health threat, promote social connection as a priority and accelerate the scaling up of solutions in countries of all incomes.
