Oct 8, 2023Liked by Brian Sankarsingh, Susan Knight
Thank you Susan for your insights into what has become such a problem for so many. Our young seem especially vulnerable to this lack of connectedness. As a parent who discusses this topic quite often with other parents, it breaks my heart to hear that so many of our young people are suffering from such debilitating loneliness. Our youth is supposed to be a time for connecting with ourselves and others, but instead, the signs of loneliness and depression are being seen all around us. Thank you for shining a light on this incredibly important topic.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Vernon. Connecting with others is part of how we learn about ourselves and develop, so it really is troubling that so many young people are having such a hard time.
I felt deep sadness while reading this article for it is the stark reality of our times.
The Canadian Index of Wellbeing has a domain called Community Vitality with an element called Social Support that states: Social support describes the feeling or act of being cared for or assisted by others in one’s social network. Social networks are often formed around shared interests or needs, and members can include family, friends and neighbours from whom or to whom a person gives or receives emotional, physical, financial or informational support. Although when the CIW survey was last done in 2014, the percentage of the population reporting 5 or more friends was 52% it would be interesting to see what this number is at post COVID.
Anecdotally however, I can personally say that I believe that one of the reasons for the short tempers and road rage incidents that seem to be on the rise is loneliness. Thank you for writing this and highlighting what is fast becoming a wellbeing and mental health epidemic.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the CIW reference. The situation truly is sad, and very concerning—how will it play out in the years and decades ahead? What happens as people get older and don’t have those special, irreplaceable friendships spanning 30, 40, or 50 years?
Great point about loneliness contributing to short tempers and road rage incidents. I agree; I see it potentially contributing to a host of maladaptive behaviours. Address loneliness, and many other issues (physical and psychological) will be addressed as well.
I’m reminded of our comments from another post: we know connection is important, and in many ways it seems like it ought to be natural, so why is it so difficult?
Thank you Susan for your insights into what has become such a problem for so many. Our young seem especially vulnerable to this lack of connectedness. As a parent who discusses this topic quite often with other parents, it breaks my heart to hear that so many of our young people are suffering from such debilitating loneliness. Our youth is supposed to be a time for connecting with ourselves and others, but instead, the signs of loneliness and depression are being seen all around us. Thank you for shining a light on this incredibly important topic.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Vernon. Connecting with others is part of how we learn about ourselves and develop, so it really is troubling that so many young people are having such a hard time.
I felt deep sadness while reading this article for it is the stark reality of our times.
The Canadian Index of Wellbeing has a domain called Community Vitality with an element called Social Support that states: Social support describes the feeling or act of being cared for or assisted by others in one’s social network. Social networks are often formed around shared interests or needs, and members can include family, friends and neighbours from whom or to whom a person gives or receives emotional, physical, financial or informational support. Although when the CIW survey was last done in 2014, the percentage of the population reporting 5 or more friends was 52% it would be interesting to see what this number is at post COVID.
Anecdotally however, I can personally say that I believe that one of the reasons for the short tempers and road rage incidents that seem to be on the rise is loneliness. Thank you for writing this and highlighting what is fast becoming a wellbeing and mental health epidemic.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the CIW reference. The situation truly is sad, and very concerning—how will it play out in the years and decades ahead? What happens as people get older and don’t have those special, irreplaceable friendships spanning 30, 40, or 50 years?
Great point about loneliness contributing to short tempers and road rage incidents. I agree; I see it potentially contributing to a host of maladaptive behaviours. Address loneliness, and many other issues (physical and psychological) will be addressed as well.
I’m reminded of our comments from another post: we know connection is important, and in many ways it seems like it ought to be natural, so why is it so difficult?