Why are We So Miserable?
In recent times, mental health professionals explain we are facing an epidemic of loneliness, isolation and despair in an atomized society. Isolation is no longer a problem of old age, it is mainstream and particularly bad with children.
These charts show a destructive trend in social isolation for many years. In 2020, however, the trends reached much more serious levels and research suggests this increase in isolation has been sustained afterwards.
In the 2023 report from the Surgeon General, some factors cited for these long-term trends and recent surge were mental and physical health, household structure, empathy, time spent outdoors, work/school environment, community organizations/activities, use of technology such as social media, etc.
He further remarks, “Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death...And the harmful consequences of a society that lacks social connection can be felt in our schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished.”
Our focus on technology and improvements in efficiency push us in front of computer screens and further away from our birthright - human interaction, physical activity and engagement with nature. Children in particular will be most vulnerable to these trends as they don't know of any other way of living. The charts above illustrate our lifestyle was on an unsustainable course, badly in need of a correction. The events since 2020 exacerbated the trend with no course correction in sight.
