Loneliness has been called an “epidemic” by governments in the U.K., U.S., Japan, and elsewhere. It’s linked to depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and even early mortality. For public health professionals, loneliness is not a soft social issue—it’s a modifiable risk factor with tangible health impacts.

The Assyrian case is instructive because it reflects patterns found across migrant and refugee populations worldwide. Migration often brings upheaval, including the loss of social networks, language barriers, discrimination, and unfamiliar systems. While collectivist traditions can provide resilience, the shift into more individualistic societies can erode support and increase isolation.

What the Study Found

Researchers surveyed 210 Assyrian-Australian adults using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, a validated measure of social isolation. Key findings:

• Loneliness was common across generations: Second-generation Assyrians (born in Australia) reported higher loneliness than first-generation immigrants. This challenges assumptions that assimilation reduces isolation.
• Age matters—but differently: Younger second-generation and older first-generation Assyrians were more likely to experience loneliness, highlighting unique vulnerabilities at life’s margins.
• Health and work status matter: Poorer self-reported health, unemployment, or being a student correlated with higher loneliness.
• Religion and culture intersect in complex ways: Some first-generation Assyrians who identified as Christian reported higher loneliness—suggesting that affiliation alone doesn’t guarantee community connection.

Beyond numbers, participants highlighted what would help: Assyrian-focused activities like language classes, cultural events, and intergenerational programs; mental health education to reduce stigma; peer support networks; and ethnic-specific social infrastructure such as retirement villages and cultural hubs

Lessons for Practice

So what does this mean for public health professionals, nonprofits, and policymakers?

1. Rethink generational assumptions
   We often assume older immigrants are most at risk. This study shows that second-generation youth are equally vulnerable. Schools, youth programs, and cultural initiatives need to be designed with them in mind.
2. Invest in cultural infrastructure
   Ethnic schools, community centers, and language programs are not just cultural preservation projects—they are public health interventions. They reduce isolation, foster identity, and build social cohesion.
3. Link mental and physical health strategies
   The tie between poor health and loneliness is strong. Screening for loneliness during routine care could identify risks earlier, especially in clinics with a high migrant population.
4. Elevate community voices
   The most effective ideas—such as Assyrian scouts, cultural cooking classes, and intergenerational storytelling—came directly from the participants. Public health needs to embed these voices in planning, not just as advisors but as co-leaders.

The Bigger Picture: Loneliness Everywhere

Although this study focuses on Assyrians, the lessons are global. Loneliness affects refugees from Syria, older South Asian migrants in Canada, and young adults in the U.S. facing economic precarity. What unites these cases is that loneliness cuts across borders, age groups, and cultures—but is intensified by displacement, marginalization, and lack of community infrastructure.

For public health, this means loneliness is not just about individuals. It’s a structural issue tied to housing, employment, discrimination, and social policy.

What’s Next

To turn research into action, public health agencies and nonprofits should:

• Adopt loneliness as a health metric in community needs assessments.
• Fund culturally tailored interventions, recognizing that one-size-fits-all campaigns often miss migrant communities.
• Support intergenerational programs that bring youth and elders together.
• Champion policy that builds ethnic-specific social hubs, schools, and retirement villages as part of health equity.

But barriers remain: political resistance to funding migrant-specific services, stigma around mental health, and the challenge of measuring loneliness consistently.

Join the Conversation

Loneliness is not inevitable. It can be addressed with intentional design, equity-focused policies, and community-driven solutions.

• How could your agency measure and address loneliness among migrant groups?
• What barriers might prevent your community from building the infrastructure that reduces isolation?
• Does this research challenge your assumptions about who is most at risk for loneliness?