Call the Midwife
Television attempts to tell a story and mimic life. Call the Midwife is set in 1950s London in the poorest of neighborhoods. I was born in the late 1960s, not very long off from the setting of the television program. The midwives also act as general nurses and medical care givers who travel to local homes to care for the people of Poplar England.
The people they served often lived in the most dreadful conditions and were among the poorest of the poor. Many of the older generation had served in workhouses when they were widowed, orphaned, or without means to support themselves. The resulting mental anguish was often horrific. As I sat watching this show, I noticed one very important thing that money cannot buy. While they had very little possessions and often ate the most basic of foods, they had community— something that we are very much lacking in our modern-day society. When something was hard or there were troubles, they had each other, a balm that cant be produced or manufactured.
Human connection is one of the most healing things that we can do for others and for ourselves. Today in America, three out of five people report being lonely. Social connection has declined from 60 minutes a day to barely 10 minutes a day (hhs.gov 2023). This is alarming! In 2018, only 16% of Americans felt that they were connected to their community, leaving 84% of Americans feeling lonely and disconnected. In 2018 American Cancer Society research findings of more than 580,000 adults revealed that social isolation contributes to depression insomnia and cognitive decline. Additionally, they found that social isolation increased the chances of death by 50% more than obesity and smoking. Both our physical health and mental health are greatly impacted by connection to people. The list goes on and on. The numbers are staggering. With all our technology and modern advances, there is no substitute for human connection.
Social connection offers us what modern medicine cannot. Social connection has been found to improve mood, reduce stress, improve self worth, increase longevity, and increase overall quality of life. We need what money cannot buy and medicine cannot do for us: other people.
What do we do about this? First get out of our houses. The following are some ways to connect with others. Volunteer. Join or start a book or common interest group. Have coffee out. Play a game. Engage in conversations while out and about.
If you struggle with anxiety or depression associated with loneliness seek out a mental health professional.
