The appointment comes after the release of a report on loneliness last year by the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness which found about nine million people report often or always feeling lonely. Another study showed about 200,000 elderly people in the U.K. had not had a conversation with a friend or a relative in over a month. The Los Angeles Times reports that loneliness is not just a mental condition, explaining extended feelings of loneliness can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic inflammation and even dementia. Many non-profits in the U.K. have begun working on loneliness issues in recent years, especially connecting lonely seniors with schools and young families. The Jo Cox Commission suggested the U.K. develop a nation-wide strategy for combating loneliness and develop a new national indicator to measure progress on loneliness issues.
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NBHC Population Health