为了战胜孤独，让我们创新

为了战胜孤独，让我们创新

There's a unique program at Judson Manor, a retirement community in Cleveland, Ohio, where several college graduate students live amid the senior residents. Room and board for the students is free, and in exchange, they perform concerts and recitals.

在俄亥俄州克利夫兰的退休社区贾德森庄园，有一个独特的项目。学生的食宿是免费的，作为交换，他们表演音乐会和独唱会。

The relationship seems to be a successful one. In addition to the complimentary accommodations for the students, they also share art lessons and often eat together. Along with friendship and companionship, they might share tips on everything from relationships to technology. For the seniors, especially, it's turned out to be a way to fight loneliness.

这段关系似乎很成功。除了免费住宿的学生，他们还分享艺术课，经常一起吃饭。除了友谊和友情，他们可能还会分享从人际关系到科技等方方面面的技巧。尤其是对老年人来说，这被证明是一种对抗孤独的方式。

And loneliness is a big deal. According to the American Psychological Association, loneliness and social isolation could be a greater threat to public health than obesity.

孤独是个大问题。据美国心理协会称，孤独和社会孤立对公共健康的威胁可能比肥胖更大。

Those who live alone or have few social contacts are at risk for a premature death, especially if they're under the age of 65. (Photo: Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock)

More than one-third of adults over age 45 in the United States are estimated to be suffering from chronic loneliness, according to AARP’s Loneliness Study. Being lonely, according to the study, often goes hand in hand with poor health. Those who rated their health as "excellent" were over half as likely (55 percent versus 25 percent) to be lonely than those who rated their health as "poor."

根据美国退休人员协会(AARP)的孤独感研究，美国45岁以上的成年人中估计有三分之一以上患有慢性孤独。研究表明，孤独往往与健康状况不佳相伴而生。那些认为自己健康状况“很好”的人比那些认为自己健康状况“很差”的人感到孤独的可能性(55%对25%)要低一半以上。

In two meta-analyses, researchers found that loneliness can increase the risk of early death.

在两项荟萃分析中，研究人员发现孤独会增加早逝的风险。

Researchers are investigating a medical way to combat the epidemic with a "loneliness pill." They're investigating whether the hormone pregnenolone might reduce the fear that keeps lonely people from connecting with others and cause them to keep withdrawing.

研究人员正在研究一种用“孤独药丸”来对抗这种流行病的医学方法。他们正在研究孕烯酮激素是否可以减少孤独的人与他人联系的恐惧，并导致他们不断地退缩。

Meanwhile, some individuals are creating their own less-scientific solutions to combat loneliness. In London, 27-year-old student Alexandra Knox moved in with 95-year-old widow Florence Smith, reports the Daily Mail. Knox pays $277 a month to room with the Royal Air Force veteran.

与此同时，一些人正在创造自己的不那么科学的方法来对抗孤独。据英国《每日邮报》报道，在伦敦，27岁的学生亚历山德拉·诺克斯与95岁的寡妇弗洛伦斯·史密斯合住。诺克斯每月为这位皇家空军老兵支付277美元的房费。

Smith signed up with a roommate-matching service to avoid feeling lonely. They share chores, watch TV together and sometimes share takeout meals.

为了避免寂寞，史密斯与一家室友配对服务公司签约。他们一起做家务，一起看电视，有时一起吃外卖。

This is just one part of a greater push to solve the problem in the U.K..

这只是英国为解决这一问题而进行的更大努力的一部分。

Then-Prime Minister Teresa May created the first "minister for loneliness" and in October launched the government's first loneliness strategy. Loneliness is believed to affect 9 million people in the U.K.

时任英国首相的特雷莎·梅创建了首位“孤独大臣”，并于10月推出了政府的首个孤独策略。据信，在英国有900万人受到孤独的影响。

Under the plan, general practitioners will be able to refer patients suffering from loneliness to community activities and voluntary services by 2023. May's strategy also focuses on how loneliness can be addressed in different sectors:

根据该计划，到2023年，全科医生将能够将孤独患者转介到社区活动和志愿服务。梅的策略还着眼于如何在不同领域解决孤独问题:

Embedding loneliness into relationship education classes so children in primary and secondary schools can learn about loneliness and the value of social relationships.

将孤独融入关系教育课程中，让中小学的孩子们了解孤独和社会关系的价值。

Pilot projects to support flexible and inclusive volunteering for people such as those with long-term health conditions, which will be rolled out in up to five pilot areas in England.

为长期健康状况患者等提供灵活和包容性志愿服务的试点项目，将在英国多达五个试点地区开展。

Meeting with tech companies to discuss loneliness.

与科技公司讨论孤独。

"Loneliness is a reality for too many people in our society today… it can affect anyone of any age and background," said May in the press release. "This strategy is only the beginning of delivering a long and far reaching social change in our country - but it is a vital first step in a national mission to end loneliness in our lifetimes."

梅在新闻发布会上说:“在当今社会，孤独对很多人来说都是现实……它可以影响任何年龄、任何背景的任何人。”“这一战略只是我们国家实现长期而深远的社会变革的开始，但它是终结我们一生孤独的国家使命中至关重要的第一步。”