Having time to connect with others must not be a privilege

Having enough time to live alongside other people should not become a privilege, the columnist argues. Excessive work is isolating many people and leaving them with depression, anxiety and frustration.

The article says social isolation affects more than mood. It is associated with depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and premature mortality.

That makes health a matter of more than hospitals and medical services. Parks, public spaces, support networks and opportunities to relate to other people also shape people’s well-being.

The argument comes from Juan José Romero Zúñiga, a university academic with 30 years of experience in teaching, research and outreach. He currently works full time at the National University, his alma mater, and the University of Costa Rica.