The loneliness epidemic: How social isolation can damage our minds and bodies

With social isolation on the rise and reduced social support, many experts are now referring to loneliness as a public health crisis.

Loneliness has long been a growing issue in Canada, but the COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified the problem with increased social isolation and decreased social support.

The link between loneliness and physical health is well-established, with the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention saying it can lead to dementia, heart disease, stroke and even premature death.

“Loneliness is as bad for you as smoking,” said Dr. Jacques Lee, a staff physician at Mount Sinai Emergency Department, adding that it may actually contribute to 45,000 deaths a year in Canada, citing an ongoing clinical trial by Mount Sinai Hospital.

“Loneliness was here before COVID, (and it) certainly made it worse. But loneliness is not going to be gone after COVID,” he added.

Although isolation can affect all age groups, Less said he witnessed many elderly people suffering from loneliness, especially during the pandemic.

During the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, Lee was working in the emergency room and said he met an elderly man. While the man previously had COVID-19, that’s not why he was at the hospital: the man felt he was dying from loneliness.

“But what happened is they had basically locked him in the room and were leaving a meal tray. And he wasn’t allowed to leave his room, even though he had fully recovered.”

Lee said he was isolated from the world for around three months.