ÖÄK on loneliness – don’t forget about yourself at Christmas!

“Loneliness can not only be emotionally very stressful for those affected, it also represents a risk to physical health that should not be underestimated,” emphasizes Johannes Steinhart, President of the Austrian Medical Association. Especially around the Christmas holidays, when families and friends increasingly come together, lonely people feel the social isolation even more acutely than usual. “But you are not alone with the problem, because there are a number of aid organizations and initiatives in Austria help to escape loneliness and social isolation,” Steinhart appeals to those affected to take their feelings seriously and take advantage of offers of help.

“The feeling of loneliness is something that everyone has probably felt at some point in their life. “It becomes particularly problematic when the feeling lasts for a long time or gets worse,” says Steinhart. A Caritas survey from last year showed that around 600,000 people in Austria felt lonely for more than half of their time. “The health effects should not be underestimated,” warns Steinhart. Numerous international studies have shown that a lack of social contact can be just as harmful as smoking or obesity. As part of a meta-analysis in 2010, researchers from the US state of Utah found that a lack of social relationships caused just as much illness as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or excessive alcohol consumption. Inactivity or being overweight would even be surpassed in their negative impact by loneliness.

“Social isolation not only increases the risk of anxiety disorders, depression or suicide, but also of somatic diseases such as strokes, heart attacks or cancer,” says Steinhart, summarizing previous findings. The feeling of exclusion and lack of belonging causes sadness, hopelessness and despair, but also stress, headaches or high blood pressure. This could result in lonely people sleeping less well, eating incorrectly or not exercising enough, which in turn has a negative impact on their health.

“Lonely people in Austria are not left alone with their problem,” emphasizes Steinhart. Numerous organizations would offer those affected help to break out of this spiral. The “Platform against Loneliness in Austria” initiative, for example, offers a variety of community projects that support people in overcoming their loneliness and isolation. “General practitioners are also a good first point of contact if you have signs of loneliness.” They could assess the symptoms in the context of their patients’ overall condition and help identify and determine further steps. “This is why care close to home is so important, because primary care centers, in contrast to individual or group practices, are designed in a more technocratic way,” explains Steinhart in conclusion.