Prescribing Art - Using Art to Combat Loneliness and Social Isolation
- 6D Living
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
From PBS Newshour, a short piece which addresses social isolation and loneliness. A new program in Charlotte, North Carolina, is using the arts to tackle loneliness and social isolation. Paul Solman reports on prescriptions for art instead of medicine for the PBS Newshour series at the intersection of art and health, part of our CANVAS coverage - scroll down to watch the video, thank you.
"In today’s fast-paced and hyper-connected world, loneliness and isolation are becoming increasingly common experiences. Surprisingly, people are more digitally connected than ever before, yet feelings of disconnection and emptiness are on the rise. Studies show that millions of individuals—regardless of age, background, or culture—struggle with loneliness at some point in their lives.
But loneliness is not simply “being alone.” A person can feel lonely even in a crowded room or while scrolling through hundreds of social media connections. On the other hand, social isolation refers to an actual reduction or absence of social interaction and relationships. Both loneliness and isolation can significantly affect mental, emotional, and physical well-being if not addressed." - Psychiatry Magazine
Image courtesy of the PBS NEWSHOUR
Social isolation is not having relationships, contact with, or support from others.
Loneliness is the feeling of being alone, disconnected, or not close to others.
Social isolation and loneliness put a person at risk of developing serious mental and physical health conditions.
"Loneliness and social isolation may be shaped by conditions in the environments where people are born, live, work, learn, worship, and play. These conditions can affect the ability to connect socially. For example, the availability of resources that exist in a community, such as parks, libraries, public transportation, and programs, support the development of social connection." - CDC
"High-quality social connections are essential to our mental and physical health and our well-being. Social isolation and loneliness are important, yet neglected, social determinants for people of all ages – including older people.
Social isolation and loneliness are widespread, with around 16% of people worldwide – one in six – experiencing loneliness. While the latest estimates suggest that loneliness is most common among adolescents and younger people, people of all ages experience loneliness – including older people, with around 11.8% experiencing loneliness. A large body of research shows that social isolation and loneliness have a serious impact on physical and mental health, quality of life, and longevity." - World Health Organization
At 6D Living we offer free Community Chats where we can all come together to discuss various topics which impact our lives. On September 19th, we will come together to discuss Finding Internal Peace in a Chaotic World and we hope you will consider joining us for this discussion.
During our Community Chat we will be discussing our ability to find peace in our chaotic world. With so much turmoil, animosity, wars, climate crises, and health issues many of us are feeling quite 'disquieted' these days. We would like to come together for a discussion about how we can find our own internal peace in the midst of such chaos and to share ideas with one another about how we each manage to find our own internal peace so that we can all benefit. Like 'paying it forward', finding our own internal peace can be paid forward by 'infecting' others to find theirs as well!
Our 6D Book Club is an opportunity to both connect with others as well as learn new skills about how to build a healthier society at large. We have three upcoming book club offers which address these topics in their own way and we encourage you to follow the links below to learn more about each book and join us is what they explore resonates with you and your current life.
The greatest predictor of your future is the beliefs you hold about the world. World-renowned researcher and author Shawn Achor illuminates how beliefs change the math about what is possible and probable in our lives. And by changing the math, beliefs change our path.
Moderator: Kathy Taylor
Begins August 20th
From a pioneering Black feminist and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, Loretta J. Ross, this urgent and exhilarating memoir-manifesto-handbook provides bold, practical new ways to transform conflicts into connections, even with those we’re tempted to walk away from.
Moderator: Sia Hurst
Begins September 1st
Caroline Williams explains that a disconnect between the brain’s predictions and the body’s sensations can lead to mental and physical health challenges, from chronic fatigue, to anxiety, to eating disorders; she delves into the fascinating field of interoception.
Moderator: Sia Hurst
Begins September 14th
6D Living
Wellness in Balance
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