It is no secret that the pandemic has left significant blows, not only in the economic field, but also in the physical and mental plane. In fact, Japan recently announced the creation of a ministry of loneliness, just as it already exists in the United Kingdom, to prevent social loneliness and the high suicide rate that occurred last year, which have been increased by the pandemic. Loneliness is being a serious problem.
The 2020, The Network of Suicide Prevention Teams (REPS) and the investigative agency Data Clear conducted a survey that revealed worrying data about the close relationship between suicidal behavior and people over 60 years of age in Chile.
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In the study they interviewed more than 2,000 people and the conclusions showed that one in 5 Chileans surveyed has had a suicide attempt. Most of them are people over 60 years old.
In addition, the researchers found through this study that during the pandemic those who have thought of suicide the most correspond to people over 60 years of age, equivalent to 47.1% of those surveyed.
Most worryingly, the research revealed that people over 60 years of age are the group that least seek help when they present suicidal behaviormainly because they believe that they will not find help around them.
There is no doubt that today as a result of the pandemic the loneliness of the elderly has increased, above all because it is the segment that must be taken care of the most. “Loneliness is such a serious thing that clinical studies in the UK have shown that it produces higher mortality than smoking 15 cigarettes a day or obesity, and we wanted to do something about it”, says Nicolás Pino, co-founder of TEN.
And this is when the purpose of TEN, the start up formed by Chileans, takes on even more force Paula Herrera and Nicolas Pino.
This consists of delivering technological solutions to fight against the loneliness experienced by people in this age segment, since many are suffering from «empty nest syndrome», others are separated, divorced or widowed, and the pandemic adds to them. «Combating the loneliness of the elderly is our unique and great mission,» says Paula.
The first technological solution created by TEN is the dating and links APP TEN LOVE, aimed at people over 50, 60 and 70 years. Its purpose is that the «new elderly have» an ally when it comes to rebuilding life in the company of a partner, or simply to make new friends who will be a key company these days.
During 2020, the application increased by almost four times the number of active userswhich reflects that older people are accessing technology, debunking the myth that older people do not know how to use phones or smart devices.
Without going any further, in a survey of more than a thousand people over the age of 50 through the Instagram account @tenlove_app, it was concluded that 60% of the participants believe that they will find love thanks to technology and 69% acknowledged that he would like to meet his next partner through an application.