depression
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loneliness
lonely
Employee Assistance Programs and the Lonely EAP Client (Is Loneliness the New Obesity?)
Posted Wednesday, August 16, 2017 by Daniel Feerst
Loneliness—it’s the reason why we reach out for one another in the middle of the night. The reason we sit beneath the
stars and make wishes. The reason we
make music, the reason we commit ourselves to another.
A while back in
September, 2010, AARP Research conducted a survey of people aged 45 and older
in regards to “Loneliness.” The findings correlated feelings of loneliness with
poorer health, a lack of drive in building social links and relationships, and
other negative wellness outcomes.
More recent research seven years later—this
week--supports the same findings and go even further. The American
Psychological Association reviewed 148 studies that involved 300,000 people.
(Huge folks, huge!)
The findings: People who were more social had less of a
chance of dying earlier—50% less chance! As an employee assistance
professional, I like to humbly recommend intervening with loneliness. Take a
strong look at the loneliness factor in your EAP clients.
Do an assessment and
find out about this high risk health and wellness problem. As a professional,
you notice smoking. You notice obesity. You can ask about sleep and caution
clients about sitting all day. But now it is also time to ask about the new
killer – loneliness.
Loneliness equals premature death according to these researchers. You can read about this latest study at http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/08/lo...
It behooves the modern day EA Professional to consider this, not just for
themselves but for their coworkers and employees. Employee Assistance
Professionals should assess for loneliness due to the mental impact, ability to
interfere with other treatment, and impact on physical health. And of course, then there is the bottom line.
Be aware of the employee undergoing personal relationship problems, or who
vocalizes complaints about being alone or lonely.
Elderly men who are lonely
are an especially higher risk of suicide. Do follow up with older clients, especially
those who spouses have died. Are they isolated?
There is still the reality of
client self-determination with any EAP or mental health client, but the
indicators of poor mental health and well-being are something to be addressed
with lonely clients—or at least brought to the attention of the sufferer.
Loneliness is a specific kind of stressor, and employed individuals who are lonely
and isolated outside of work can still affect productivity if their condition
impedes health and wellness. Always screen for depression, of course.
If sitting is the new smoking, is loneliness the new obesity? Consider the
findings within the research study and see for yourself the kind of stress and
poor health outcomes that loneliness can produce—from negative mental health to poor
physical and personal health or dietary practices.
As an EAP, is loneliness something you already consider in your assessment in conscious and targeted way? Do let me
know! Will you be making any changes? Discuss below.
www.marketwatch.com/story/why-loneliness-is-more-dangerous-than-obesity-2017-08-10