From Companionship to Cure: The Global Health Case for Friendship

Connection is in our DNA

 

“Social relationships, or the relative lack thereof, constitute a major risk factor for health, rivaling the effect of well established health risk factors such as cigarette smoking, blood pressure, blood lipids, obesity and physical activity.”
- House, Landis, and Umberson; Science, 1988

More than three decades later, this finding still rings true. Social connection remains one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools for improving global health. While friendship might not be found on a prescription pad, its impact is no less vital.

On 8 June, National Best Friends Day was celebrated across the world. While it may seem like a lighthearted social media moment, there’s something far more important behind it. Friendship is not just a personal joy, it’s a public health asset.

From a global health perspective, social connection is increasingly being recognised as a determinant of health. Whether it’s through family, faith communities or friendships, our relationships have a measurable impact on our wellbeing. They shape how we cope, how we heal, and how we thrive.

Studies from multiple countries have shown that strong social ties reduce the risk of premature death, mental illness and chronic disease. In fact, the health impact of social isolation has been compared to smoking or obesity. People with close connections are more likely to engage in healthy behaviours, manage stress better, and recover more quickly from illness. When friendships flourish, health does too.

But the reality is that across the world, millions are lonely. Whether it’s due to displacement, poverty, digital overuse, urbanisation, or stigma, people are becoming more socially disconnected, even in densely populated places. Refugees living in new countries, older adults ageing alone, young people navigating digital spaces, and caregivers without support are just a few of the groups at risk of being left out of the social safety net.

This is where public health and global health systems must do better. Interventions that promote connection such as community hubs, peer support groups, inclusive urban planning, and culturally sensitive mental health services are not optional extras. They are essential parts of the solution.

We’ve seen promising examples emerge. In the UK, the introduction of social prescribing allows GPs to refer patients to community-based support, including befriending services and group activities. In Japan, the government has gone so far as to appoint a Minister for Loneliness, recognising the national health implications of isolation. These steps show what is possible when health policy acknowledges the social side of wellbeing.

It’s easy to think of friendships as something soft or secondary. But in the context of health, they are structural. The quality of our relationships can shape our outcomes just as much as the quality of our healthcare.

So while National Best Friends Day may come and go, the message it carries should remain. Friendship is more than a bond. It’s a buffer. It protects people in crisis, strengthens communities, and builds the trust needed for public health campaigns to succeed.

And while global systems work to address the bigger picture, each of us can play a part. A simple message, a shared laugh, a quiet check-in, these small moments keep relationships alive. So take a moment to show appreciation for the people who help keep you well. In a world that often feels uncertain, friendships are one of the most certain things we have.

In the end, strong friendships remind us that people, not programmes, are at the heart of health.