Viruses in circulation, toxic drugs on the street, lapsed childhood shots against diseases – the kinds of health threats that Ontarians hear about from their regional medical officers of health vary widely.
Viruses in circulation, toxic drugs on the street, lapsed childhood shots against diseases – the kinds of health threats that Ontarians hear about from their regional medical officers of health vary widely.
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One you don’t hear so much about is the toll of loneliness and isolation on human health, which the Chatham area’s top public health doctor compares to smoking 15 cigarettes a day or consuming six alcoholic drinks a day.
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Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, Chatham-Kent’s acting medical officer of health, raised the issue during a recent virtual meeting of the health board.
“Loneliness is something we’ve got to consider in the 21st century, especially in rural areas,” he said. “This is actually something that’s quite important.
“(Some say) ‘I feel alone, even if I’m at a crowded party.’ Loneliness is actually more complicated than we might think.”
Nesathurai said the health risks of loneliness and isolation are on par with some other major detriments to health.
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“The lack of social connectivity is worse than smoking 15 cigarettes a day, or consuming six drinks a day,” he said. “If someone told me they were smoking 15 cigarettes a day, I’d be worried. Loneliness is a big deal.
“If you take living alone as a risk factor, there’s a 26-per-cent chance in increase of deaths. Self-isolation, 29-per-cent increase in death. Living alone, 32-per-cent increase in death.”
Nesathurai said lack of social connection affects more than just a person’s mental health.
“It’s just not mental health outcomes. It’s heart disease, stroke, diabetes . . . premature mortality,” he said. “At the end of the day, the public health service is about giving every person the opportunity to live their fullest life, a life of the highest quality.”
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The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) says loneliness can feed on itself, making people feel like they don’t fit it in and harder for them to reach out for help. That cycle starts to break down as people challenge their feelings of loneliness and start to make changes in their lives, the association says.
Among the tips it offers to help deal with loneliness, the CMHA recommends asking why a person feels lonely to better understand their situation and to work through how to address it, including by talking to a counselor if needed.
Other recommendations include avoiding comparing yourself to others, which can be tough in a social media era in which many people seem to be surrounded by friends online, and giving yourself time to adjust to transitions in life, especially major changes.
For more information about mental health, or a list of resources, visit the CMHA or Chatham-Kent Public Health websites.
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