Can Loneliness affect our Mental Health?

It’s safe to say the pandemic rocked the world. Fortunately we seem to be coming out the other side. One change that lives on in many companies is the work from home culture. Working from home has it’s benefits, from eliminating commute time to offering a better work life balance (in some cases). However, for those that live alone, working from home can be incredibly isolating. But the big question is how can loneliness have an affect on our overall health?

Physical Health

You may be familiar with the saying “they died from a broken heart”, suggesting that feeling

alone can have an affect on our health. According to The Royal College of Nursing, loneliness can cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels towards the heart). When severe these symptoms can lead to further issues such as having a heart attack, angina or a stroke.

Mental Health

Loneliness isn’t a mental health problem, although it can have serious affects on our mental health. According to Mind (About loneliness | Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health problems) loneliness is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, low self esteem, sleep problems and increased stress. When we feel alone high levels or cortisol are released leading to the body feeling under stress.

How Can We Overcome This…

When working from home try to remain as connected as possible to your team, without becoming unproductive of course! Whether that be scheduling a daily lunch call with teammates or getting out in the fresh air walking and talking during meetings. Eating a balanced diet and keeping active are also brilliant ways of protecting our physical and mental health. If you would like help with developing your company's mental health strategy, why not contact us at Health of Business today. We can be reached at enquiries@healthofbusiness.com.