Breaking the illness and isolation cycle

The latest United Nations World Happiness Report reveals that Finland is the happiest country in the world to live in. They have topped the list for the past eight years. What makes this country with long, cold dark winters such a blissful place to live? Aside from fantastic scenery, plenty of space and relative prosperity, much has been put down to their obsession with saunas. Almost 90% of Finns go at least once a week, meeting friends and family to enjoy this communal experience.

It is these important social connections which are believed to boost happiness in Finland. These visits create natural opportunities to talk, ask for advice, share concerns or just to have a good old moan. People feel part of something larger and know they have someone to turn to if they need help.

People need people. We are social beings. There is no substitute for getting together face to face. In our increasingly digital world, we are beginning to discover that online relationships cannot provide the same benefits as meeting people physically. People aged under 30, the digital generation, are over twice as likely to report feeling lonely often or always than those aged over 70^[1].

Loneliness is on the increase in the UK. The ONS figures show they are on the rise and have not decreased significantly since the pandemic lockdowns^[2]. Long-term sickness levels are also on the rise, with record numbers of people leaving the workforce because of it^[3]. Could the two issues be linked?

Research has long noted the link between social isolation and mental wellbeing. People who have strong social connections have a significant lower risk of depression than those that are lonely and isolated^[4].

A major cause of social isolation is illness or injuries. Being physically confined to the home through a physical or mental condition is a major barrier to keeping up vital relationships with friends and family. When people are ill, they often feel vulnerable and lose confidence, making them more likely to retreat from the world.

Illness can make people feel scared or uncomfortable. It can be difficult to know what to say and easy to convince ourselves that it’s better to stay away and leave someone to recuperate in peace. In a recent survey, we asked people who knew someone who was off work due to a long-term illness or injury what contact they had had with them recently. 31% said that they had had less contact. Men are more likely to have less contact than women, with 35% saying they had seen the person who is ill less. Those aged under 35 are the most likely to lose contact.

Illness strains social connections. It puts barriers up, preventing people from participating in their usual life, be that going to work, meeting friends, walking the dog or doing the school run. The longer you have not done these things, the harder it is to get back into them.

For those who have to rely on statutory sickness pay (SSP), which is only £109.40 a week, or are self-employed, and have no safety net at all, financial constraints can contribute to their isolation. Going out costs money; money that needs to be spent on the essentials like heating, food and accommodation.

Having the financial back-up that income protection provides, which can cover these essential costs, means there is more flexibility in the budget. It can provide the funds that allow someone to get out to meet people, attend support groups and therapy sessions that can help with their recovery. It can break the illness and social isolation cycle and enable that much needed connection to the outside world.

^{[1] Younger Brits report higher levels of loneliness | Campaign to End Loneliness}

^{[2] Community Life Survey 2023/24: Loneliness and support networks - GOV.UK}

^{[3] Sick people leaving workforce at record highs - BBC News}

^{[4] The Mental Health Effects of Social Isolation}