Do you know about the UK's Loneliness Minister? Here's what his job is all about!
The UK has a Loneliness Minister now, and we think it’s a good idea. Most of us are aware of the research that claims loneliness is as harmful to humans as breathing 15 cigarettes a day. Well, Theresa May’s cabinet actually did something about it.
Meet the first Loneliness Minister in the world—Tracey Couch, who herself has suffered from loneliness and depression at some point in her life. She has taken the responsibility of finding solutions to this modern-day problem. She will look into the social, mental and emotional caused by loneliness.
Her appointment was the result of a report on loneliness by Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness which stated that more than 9 million people in the country have or always feel lonely. That is almost 14 percent of the country’s population.
“For far too many people, loneliness is the sad reality of modern life,” May says. “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 careers, by those who have lost loved ones — people who have no one to talk to or share their thoughts and experiences with,” May said during a conference.
Tracey Couch is a former under-secretary for sport and civil society in the Ministry of Culture. Tracey herself felt isolated from the world after she gave birth to her first child in 2016. She told a source that despite having friends, family and her husband, she felt as if she was cut-off from the world.
“My challenge is to coordinate a strategy, one that crosses government, business, charities, and many other partners — one that lasts a generation. This will not happen overnight and is no easy task but I am up for the challenge, “she told a source.
A U.S surgeon, Dr. Vivek Murthy has an opinion that isolation can be associated with a “greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression, and anxiety.”
As per the U.K.’s Office for National Statistics, loneliness isn’t restricted to age. Even 16 to 24-year-old people reported feeling lonely. Some of them felt lonelier than pension holders.
National Statistics Office will define as well as implement measures to tackle the problem that is not only limited to the UK. It’s a worldwide problem now.
A fund would be set up to help the government develop various strategies and plans to deal with the problem. The amount of funding is yet to be decided by the government.
While the UK government has decided to take the first step to deal with the problem, India isn’t far behind on the list of the loneliest countries.
Loneliness has driven Indians to depression and anxiety. There aren’t any laws or ministry to deal with the problem, not yet. Here’s hoping that our government will look into the issue as well, and soon!
