World Health Organization launches Social Relations Commission (2024-2026) to enhance global social relations

WHO has announced a new Commission on Social Cohesion, which aims to address loneliness as a serious health threat, promote social connectedness as a priority, and accelerate the scale-up of solutions across all income countries. Co-chaired by the US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, and the African Union Youth Envoy, Chido Mpemba, the Commission consists of 11 prominent policy-makers, thought leaders and advocates. Social isolation – having an inadequate number of social contacts, and loneliness – and the social pain of not feeling connected are widespread. Contrary to the perception that isolation and loneliness mainly affect older people in high-income countries, they affect the health and well-being of all age groups around the world. Lack of social connectedness is linked to other well-known risk factors – such as smoking, excessive drinking, physical inactivity, obesity and air pollution resulting in similar or even greater risk of early death. Social isolation also has serious impacts on physical and mental health; Studies show that it is linked to anxiety and depression and may increase the risk of heart disease by 30%.