Isolation and mental health: thinking outside the box

Social isolation is a universal human experience, impacting whole communities at times and reminding each individual of our need for connection. Isolation weaves through life on an intrapersonal, interpersonal and existential level; all individuals experience this phenomenon, to varying degrees, at points in their development. Research has shown that persistent social isolation is a predictor for cardiovascular problems, mental health disorders and increased mortality rates.1 Therefore, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to understand the various forms in which isolation can manifest and ways to foster meaning as a protective factor. As mental health professionals, we must grow in our understanding and willingness to imagine novel solutions for persistent isolation that aid the long-term health of individuals. Individuals who live alone, those who are abused, those who lack a healthy support system and members of marginalised groups are prime candidates to suffer from depression and anxiety.2 For these individuals, being isolated can be both tormenting and a relief. Isolation is a result of anxiety and depression in that some individuals use it as a self-induced coping mechanism to deal with excessive worry and avoid human interaction. For others, isolation is a key driver of anxiety and depression, craving the support and stimulation that socialisation provides.1 Organisations, such as Mental Health America, represent the need to address mental health by dedicating several pages on their websites to detailed information and resources.3 Most of these websites emphasise a need for social interaction by providing links to therapists in the surrounding areas, listings of groups and even specifically recommending that individuals ‘connect with others’. The mental health field employs techniques that help clients change patterns of isolation.4 However, factors have shifted, and remedies need to be re-evaluated. It is evident that society is feeling the effects of being …