Madrid .– Almost half of the people with mental health problems in Spain experience feelings of loneliness, according to a study by the State Observatory on Loneliness (SoledadES), prepared by the ONCE Foundation and the AXA Foundation.
The report reveals that 49.1% of those suffering from mental health disorders claim to feel lonely, a proportion much higher than the 11% recorded among people who do not have these types of conditions.
Furthermore, the study points out that 20.2% of the Spanish population lives in a situation of unwanted loneliness, while chronic loneliness—that which lasts for two years or more—increased from 13.5% to 15.6%.
Researchers also observed an increase in mental health problems over the last two years. Currently, 24% of the population reports suffering from these types of disorders, compared to the 18.3% recorded previously. Of that total, 13.3% have a medical diagnosis and 10.6% suspect they have some condition.
The report warns that the relationship between loneliness and mental health is bidirectional: isolation can aggravate the symptoms of these disorders, while mental illnesses also foster feelings of loneliness.
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The data also show that women have a higher incidence of mental health problems than men (30.1% versus 17%), and that young people continue to be one of the most affected groups.
Another finding of the study is the impact of digital technologies. Nearly half of the respondents believe that the use of social media contributes to increased loneliness, while 38.5% think that artificial intelligence can also foster emotional isolation.
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The authors of the report conclude that strengthening social ties and expanding access to mental health care are key measures to address a problem that continues to grow and that especially affects the most vulnerable groups.
