# Make time for people you trust

Published by Pawel Jozefiak. [About this project](https://healthy100.jock.pl/about/), [How we check sources](https://healthy100.jock.pl/methodology/)

- Canonical: https://healthy100.jock.pl/mind-social-connection/
- Language: en
- First published: 2026-09-27
- Evidence checked: 2026-09-28, using AI-assisted source verification
- Clinical review: Not clinically reviewed
- Number 21 of 100 in the list: https://healthy100.jock.pl/#mind-social-connection

Regular, supportive contact eases loneliness, which WHO now links to hundreds of thousands of deaths a year.

**The number:** WHO estimates loneliness causes 871 000 deaths each year ([WHO, 2025](https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/social-connection))

## The evidence

- Evidence grade: B. Grade B: consistent large cohort studies, with some trial evidence.
- Basis: WHO Commission on Social Connection estimates and NHS wellbeing guidance; health associations do not establish an intervention effect
- Impact: 76/100. The impact score is an editorial prioritization heuristic for the general list, not a validated estimate of your personal risk.

## Why it matters

Supportive relationships give you belonging and practical help when life gets hard. WHO estimates that loneliness causes 871 000 deaths each year, and that about 1 in 6 people worldwide, 15.8%, feel lonely. Those are population figures describing the size of the problem, not a promise that a set number of visits changes your own risk.

## How to do it

1. Arrange a regular call or visit with someone whose company you actually enjoy.
2. Join a recurring local group built around an interest you already have.
3. Tell someone you trust when you need company or practical help.
4. If loneliness persists, ask a community service or health professional what support exists near you.

## Putting it into practice

### Start now

- 1 minute: If a trusted person is nearby, thank them for one specific thing and ask how they are; give their answer your attention.
- 5 minutes: Send someone you trust a specific invitation, such as a 15-minute call tomorrow, and offer a time that works for you.
- 15 minutes: Call or talk with someone you enjoy. Share one thing from your day and ask about theirs.
- 30 minutes: Spend half an hour together over a drink or shared activity, in person or by a call if getting out is difficult.

### What it looks like

- Invite a friend to a regular Sunday call, with a shorter call on busy weeks.
- Join a local book group where you can see the same people again.

### Common mistakes

- A crowded diary can still feel lonely: make room for people with whom you feel safe and heard.
- If you have nobody to contact, ask a community service about groups or befriending instead of treating loneliness as your fault.

### A structured start

**Make contact easier to repeat**

1. This week, arrange one conversation with someone you trust, or contact a local group if you need new connections.
2. Afterwards, agree the next time to meet or talk.
3. After a few contacts, keep what feels supportive; ask for community or professional help if loneliness persists.

### Trusted how-to guides

- [Dealing with loneliness](https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/loneliness/), NHS

## Sources

- [Social connection](https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/social-connection), WHO, 2025 (Tier 1 guideline)
- [5 steps to mental wellbeing](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/), NHS, 2022 (Tier 1 guideline)

---

General health information, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Personalization changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess your medical risks. Follow the cautions and consult a qualified clinician when needed.

Report an error: meet@jock.pl

Reuse: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/