Latest news with #Forssmed
Local Sweden
2 days ago
- Health
- Local Sweden
What's causing Sweden's record-low birth rate? A new inquiry is set to find out
The Swedish government has launched an inquiry over concerns about the country's low birth rate, with the aim of proposing concrete measures to improve it. Advertisement The birth rate comparative to the size of the population has never been lower in Sweden that it is now ‒ and the statistics go back hundreds of years. "We need to think about the society we have when we have such a low birth rate," Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed said. "In the long term, this is going to be a big problem." Sweden's birth rate is currently at 1.4 children per woman, which is significantly lower than the 2.1 needed to sustain population growth. Forssmed believes that this will lead to a smaller labour force and a situation where a small number of young people will need to provide for a larger group of older people. "This will put the Swedish welfare model under pressure," Forssmed said. In a press conference, Forssmed highlighted research which shows that one in four women do not want to have children. The inquiry will be tasked with looking into why that is. He believes that it could be to do with practical barriers, like finances and property, but also biological barriers as women are increasingly choosing to have their first child later in life. Forssmed also mentioned an increase in mental illness as a possible cause, adding that it may also have become more difficult to find a partner. The inquiry has a year to report and has been tasked with proposing concrete measures for a "more family-friendly society". Åsa Hansson, professor in national economics, will lead the inquiry, where she will be assisted by a group of experts. Despite the fact that Sweden already has one of the world's most generous systems for parental leave, Forssmed did not rule out the possibility of further economic motives for parents, for example a benefit for first-time mothers. "There are countries which are trying that now, and that's why we've told the inquiry to look into what works and what doesn't and see if there are any policies which could be relevant for Sweden," he said. Advertisement During the past two years, the birth rate has dropped below 1.5 children per adult, which has never happened before. "If this continues it means that every future generation will be 30 percent smaller than their parents' generation," Forssmed said. The birth rate has dropped almost every year since 2010, according to Statistics Sweden, when the birth rate was 1.98 children per woman. The decrease is seen broadly across society, equally among Swedes and immigrants, in urban and rural areas, Forssell said.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
WHO sounds alarm bells: Loneliness makes many people sick
One in six people worldwide is affected by loneliness, which, along with social isolation, can lead to physical illness, contributing to 871,000 deaths worldwide annually, a World Health Organization (WHO) commission has said. Loneliness increases the risk of strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, depression, anxiety and suicide, the WHO said. Lonely teenagers are 22% more likely to achieve lower grades than their peers, while lonely adults face greater challenges in finding or keeping a job. The impact is not only individual but also societal, with billions in costs to healthcare systems and losses in employment. The role of mobile phones and living alone The commission's co-chair, Vivek Murthy, defines loneliness as 'a painful, subjective feeling that many of us experience when the relationships that we need do not match the relationships that we have. And social isolation, by contrast, is an objective state of having few relationships or interactions.' One in three older people and one in four adolescents are estimated to be socially isolated, according to the report. Causes include illness, poor education, low income, a lack of opportunities for social interaction, living alone and the use of digital technologies. Murthy noted that humans have communicated for millennia not only through words but also through facial expressions, body language, tone of voice and silence. These forms of communication are lost when people rely solely on mobile phones and social media. Sweden's strategy against loneliness The WHO highlighted Sweden as a positive example. The country has implemented a national strategy against loneliness, as reported by Swedish Social Minister Jakob Forssmed. Sweden recognizes that loneliness is not just an individual problem but one that affects society as a whole. Efforts are being made to foster social connections in places like shops, restaurants, neighbourhoods and clubs. Soon, all children and teenagers in Sweden will receive prepaid cards that can only be used to book group leisure activities. Sweden plans to ban mobile phones in public schools, Forssmed said. Studies have shown that this increases social interaction and reduces cyberbullying. Children and teenagers sleep better and find it easier to put their phones aside during their free time. Forssmed added that children are often frustrated when their parents are constantly distracted by their phones. Finding phone-free times While digital technologies have their benefits, such as enabling video calls that were previously impossible, the commission emphasized the importance of creating spaces in life where people can interact face-to-face without technological distractions. Murthy said 'having places and spaces in our life where we can interact face to face with other people without the distraction of technology is very important.' (DPA)
