Nearly 60 per cent of youths in a Talking Point survey considered themselves lonely. Who is checking in with them? The CNA programme finds out about their social disconnection and how they can build and maintain meaningful bonds.
SINGAPORE: On days when work is extra challenging, that is when Valentina Ko, 35, hits the gym hardest.
Reaching out to them became a source of anxiety. “What if we meet and we have nothing to talk about?” he wondered. Out of more than 1,000 survey responses Talking Point received, about half were from youths aged between 21 and 35. Social isolation, on the other hand, refers to an “objective” lack of social contact. For those who are content with solitude, they can be physically alone but not feel lonely.
Some of them felt a mismatch of expectations, where one party valued a friendship more than the other party did. There were those who said they always felt like an outsider to their group of friends or family.“Everyone has to go through life somehow. You can’t be sharing your problems everywhere. Your problem is yours to solve,” said Sarah Fam, 33.Given the social stigma around mental health issues in general, many youths remain reluctant to open up to others about their struggles.
“It’s very easy to just brush things off,” said Kaize Ng, 22. “A lot of people … would like to avoid going deep — deep talk.” Beyond the unpleasant sensation of being lonely, experts say chronic loneliness can have long-term physical and social effects. In his public health advisory, Murthy described how social disconnection can hurt communities by diminishing productivity, performance and civic engagement in workplaces, schools and beyond.But what can Singapore’s youth do to feel less lonely and isolated? Experts say it is about focusing on what you can control in your life.And more companies are popping up with solutions for those looking for a connection, such as Offline Singapore.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why more young Singaporeans are volunteering in 'unfamiliar' LaosMany student groups from Singapore visit Laos for community work as part of “growing people-to-people ties that anchor our friendship”, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said during a recent visit to Vientiane.
Read more »
Healing invisible wounds: How 2 young Singaporeans found hope and support after traumatic bodily injuriesSINGAPORE — In 2022, a devastating road accident took the life of Clarissa Foong’s close friend whom she had known since secondary school.
Read more »
Journey to a million: Young Singaporeans on the fast track to ‘financial freedom’ bare allFrom social media ventures to e-commerce start-ups, young people are paving their own ways to financial freedom.
Read more »
Govt will do everything it can to help Singaporeans tackle cost-of-living concerns: PM WongHe also acknowledged that the issue remains a concern even as inflation has been moderating.
Read more »
MRT passenger who spilled coffee that spread to 3-4 cabins angers Singaporeans Singapore News%
Read more »
Only 3 in 10 Singaporeans know what palliative care is about: SurveyMost Singaporeans prefer to die at home, but only three in 10 of them know what palliative care is about. A survey conducted by local non-profit Lien Foundation on more than 1,000 adult Singaporeans highlighted common misconceptions and barriers towards palliative care.
Read more »