THE COST OF DISCONNECTION

With over 80% of Thais experiencing loneliness, mindful listening is a key antidote

- STORY: THANA BOONLERT

A Listenian Card is a tool that helps people with mindful listening. The launch of the second edition of the National Month of Listening.

Over 80% of Thais experience loneliness and it is more common in urban areas, according to the country's first survey by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth).

The study was recently unveiled at an event titled "Lonely Nation: Survey Of Loneliness In Thailand". A collaboration between ThaiHealth, JitArsa Bank and Chulalongkorn University, the study marked the second edition of the National Month Of Listening in November.

Activities will be organised throughout the month to raise awareness of listening. Last year, around 2,300 people sought support from volunteers and 1.7 million had access to learning materials.

"Loneliness is a universal phenomenon. Humans are by default social creatures. Disconnection can cause them to feel lonely," said Assoc Prof Somboon Jarukasemthawee, assistant dean and lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, in a press conference last month.

"Loneliness is experienced when the need for bonding is not met and it varies from person to person and in degree from mild to clinical levels."

Loss of social ties is far more than a negative emotion — it can be detrimental to physical health. A US study by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, established the connection between mental and physical well-being. It found that loneliness is deadly and comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Assoc Prof Somboon said loneliness is a latent noncommunicable disease, which can morph into anxiety and depression. Accordingly, he conducted the Thai survey using the UCLA Loneliness Scale to assess how often a person feels disconnected from others.