How are cities tackling the issue of loneliness?
This article is also available here in Spanish.

How are cities tackling the issue of loneliness?

My list

Author | Lucía Burbano

Despite living permanently connected and surrounded by other people, an increasing number of people are feeling lonely. The situation has reached such a point that loneliness could reach epidemic proportions by 2030 unless measures are taken. What are cities doing in this regard?

Loneliness, a contemporary emotion

Loneliness is the feeling of distress that results from a discrepancy between one’s desired and actual social contact. It can have a detrimental effect on both our mental and physical health and lead to many health conditions including depression, alcoholism, cognitive decline and heart disease.

In fact, while air pollution, obesity and excessive alcohol use increase a person’s risk of death by 6%, 23% and 37% respectively, loneliness can increase this risk by as much as 45%.

Greater loneliness in cities

A study published in Nature sheds some light on the impact urban life has on its residents. Researchers developed a mobile app called Urban Mind, based on a methodology called ecological momentary assessment. It consists of randomly sending messages to participants, inviting them to answer questions.

The questions included where they were at that particular time, what their surroundings were like and how they felt. Data was obtained from 756 people who completed 16,602 assessments around the world.

The study found that overcrowded environments increased loneliness by up to 38%. Another study commissioned by the city of London identifies key aspects that increase loneliness in cities:

● Living below the poverty threshold

● Being single or living alone

● Being disabled

● Going through life changes

● Prejudice or feeling different

Tools to detect (and overcome) loneliness

loneliness 2

Cities have the capacity to offer something for everyone, provided they adopt an inclusive strategy.

These are some solutions that cities can adopt to combat loneliness.

Greater citizen participation

It is practically impossible to design an inclusive city without involving its residents. Today there are methodologies such as participatory budgeting tools and digital tools to enable more people to provide their opinions and offer solutions to common problems.

Friendlier public services\

City councils should consider the possibility of incorporating more "friendliness" into their relationships with residents; a simple conversation about a subject that concerns them or helping them to complete forms, are some measures identified in the study conducted in London.

Housing with more shared spaces

Housing models that emphasize shared spaces, such as usable interior patios and play areas for children where families can meet up, improves socialization among residents.

Cities that are combating loneliness

Pau, France

In 2018, the city organized five workshops and invited associations, citizens and government representatives to reflect on the existing initiatives to combat social isolation, but also new initiatives that could be implemented based on real situations.

The team presented, for example, the case of a young man with a visual disability who lives with his parents and suffers from loneliness. The participants were then asked to propose solutions to help him.

Barcelona

Radares is a community action program launched in 2008 in the Gràcia district to try to prevent unwanted loneliness. It is a network made up of neighbors, business owners and local chemists that keep a watchful eye on the elderly to ensure their wellbeing in the neighborhood. If any changes are detected, they can contact those responsible for the program who, in turn, will contact social services.

Photographs | Unsplash/Samuel Austin, Unsplash/Semina Psichogiopoulou

Related Content

Recommended profiles for you

EK
Esmaeil Khalili
Institute of social and cultural studies
Associated Researcher
MC
Manuel Cossio
Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya
Global Head
JR
J Luis Rubiés
ISACA BCN CHAPTER
VP
VP
Valentin Pagador Tinoco
Telefonica
National Coordinator for Smart Cities Business Development
RL
Rhodalyn Lumague
City Government of Makati
Housing Homesite Regulation Assistant
BG
Benoit Gufflet
Across The Blocks
Co-founder @AcrossTheBlocks, a learning expedition on smart cities: www.acrosstheblocks.com
YL
Yulia Lesnichaya
Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Project Officer, Communications
FB
Fernando Betancourt Escobar
DATAYSERVICE
Gerente General
AS
Artur Jorge Baptista Santos
Município de Vila Nova de Poiares
Vice-mayor
IP
Ivani Pauli
Arakarah
Founder
RM
Ricardo Moreno
Axis
AXis
HK
heungsoo kim
mirangcurl
owner
SH
Siri Høibo
DOGA
Head of Urban Development
RB
Ricardo Barragán
RAM Design Center
CEO
PA
Pilar AUMENTE
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
researcher and university teacher
DB
Damien Brosseau
Okeenea Digital
Managing Director
BM
Bekki Missaggia
American Planning Association
LMS Manager
CC
Cynthia Curry
Metro Atlanta Chamber
Director, Smart Cities Ecosystem Expansion
LM
Luis Marqués
Rovira i Virgili University
Dean of Faculty of Educational Sciences an Phsycology
DJ
De Oliveira Jorge
Smart Cube
Founder