Yesterday evening, the Mestre Martí Tauler Library in Rubí hosted a new activity from the Rubí University Extension Classroom in collaboration with AmicsUAB, which marked the group's reunion after the start of the academic year. Approximately 35 people attended the lecture entitled Desired Solitude or Social Isolation: Impacts on Mental Health in the Elderly, given by Guillermo Parra, professor of Psychology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Professor Parra began the session by differentiating between desired solitude, which can have positive effects and allows for moments of reflection, creativity or spirituality, and unwanted solitude, which is often associated with social isolation, sadness and physical and mental health problems, also becoming a public health challenge.
As he explained, prolonged solitude can increase cortisol, weaken the immune system and increase the risk of depression, anxiety and even dementia. However, when chosen and lived consciously, it can become a space for emotional well-being and personal growth.
Parra presented several strategies and approaches to deal with loneliness and promote well-being in old age, structured on three levels:
At the community level, he highlighted the importance of intergenerational and reverse mentoring programs, social clubs, cultural workshops or time banks, as well as the key role of public inclusion policies. He cited as an example the United Kingdom's National Plan against Unwanted Loneliness (2018), which created the figure of the "minister for loneliness" and promotes the design of urban environments and services that foster social connection.
At an individual level, he highlighted the need to foster meaningful networks (family, neighborhood, friendships), train social and emotional skills, increase physical activity and participate in support groups or psychotherapy, as their effectiveness in reducing perceived loneliness has been demonstrated.
At a symbolic-cultural level, he proposed revaluing old age as a stage of transmission and wisdom, promoting social participation, volunteering and the positive representation of maturity in the media.
After a more theoretical first part, Professor Parra invited the audience to share experiences, emotions and concerns related to loneliness and social relationships. This second part became a very participatory and close space, where attendees were able to express how they experience this phenomenon in their day-to-day lives and reflect on the importance of human connection throughout life.
The event concluded with a very enriching collective debate, which left the shared feeling that solitude can be a space of freedom, but also an alarm signal when it leads to isolation. The key, as Parra summarized, is to ensure that “everyone has someone to talk to and something meaningful to do.”
