Introduction by Croakey: The Julian Assange story has multiple dimensions, as many of us were reminded when watching his first steps back on Australian soil last night, walking into the deep embrace of his wife and father.
It is a story of war crimes, human rights, diplomacy, press freedom, the exercise of United States power and also the collective power of family and communities in fighting for justice, as well as a reminder that “that speaking truth to power can come at an unfathomable personal cost”.
As we contemplate the costs that have been borne by Assange, his family and supporters, some of the health issues involved are investigated below by Professor Carol Maher and Dr Johanna Badcock, in an article first published at The Conversation under the headline, ‘Julian Assange was isolated for more than a decade. Here’s what that does to the body and mind’.
Their reflections on the toll of social isolation are also timely in the wake of an international social prescribing conference that wrapped up in Sydney today, highlighting the importance of social connections for health and wellbeing.
Their article also reminds us of the health costs of the confinement experienced by so many other people in prison, detention and other isolating contexts, in Australia and around the world.
“Social connection is not a luxury. It’s a fundamental need, as essential to our health as food and water,” they write.
Carol Maher and Johanna Badcock write:
Anyone who lived through the COVID pandemic would likely understand that even a small period of isolation can cause physical and mental stress.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange – who has returned to Australia after reaching a plea deal with the US Department of Justice – is reported to have suffered various mental and physical challenges during his almost 15 years in some form of isolation.
Assange was first arrested in Britain in 2010 after Swedish authorities said they wanted to question him over sex crime allegations.
After exhausting legal avenues to stop an extradition to Sweden, in June 2012 he entered Ecuador’s embassy in London, where he remained for seven years.
In early 2019, he was jailed for skipping bail and held at London’s Belmarsh prison where he spent most of the following five years fighting extradition to the US. Now, he’s coming home.
While we have no idea how Assange is coping from being cooped up inside for so long with few visitors, we do know that isolation can have a severe negative impact on many people.
How physical inactivity impacts your body
Physical activity is vital for overall health. It keeps your heart strong, helps manage weight, and builds muscle and bone strength.
Regular exercise also lifts your mood, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and sharpens your mind. Plus, it boosts your immune system, making you more resistant to infections and diseases.
When you don’t move enough, especially in isolation, your health can take a hit. Muscles weaken and joints stiffen, making you less strong and flexible.
Your heart health suffers, too, raising the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes because your heart isn’t getting the workout it needs.
Metabolic issues such as obesity and type 2 diabetes become more common with inactivity, especially if you don’t have access to healthy food.
Isolation often means less fresh air and sunlight, both crucial for good health. Poor ventilation can lead to respiratory problems. Lack of sunlight can cause vitamin D deficiency, weakening bones and the immune system, and increasing the risk of fractures.
These effects fit with the reports that Assange suffered a mini-stroke in 2021 and a broken rib from persistent coughing fits while in isolation.
What about mental health?
Social disconnection comes in two main forms, both of which have serious consequences for our mental health.
The first is social isolation. The reasons for being isolated are many and varied, including geographical distance, lack of access to transport, or incarceration.
The end result is the same: you have few relationships, social roles or group memberships, and limited social interaction.
The second form of social disconnection is more invisible but just as harmful.
Loneliness is that subjective, unpleasant feeling of wanting but lacking satisfying relationships with others.
You can be isolated and not feel lonely, but the two are often unwelcome bedfellows.
Social connection is not a luxury. It’s a fundamental need, as essential to our health as food and water.
Just as hunger reminds us to eat, loneliness acts as a signal alerting us that our social relationships are weak and need to be improved if we are to remain healthy
The science around the health impacts of social disconnection is clear, especially when it is prolonged. So much so, the World Health Organization recently launched a Commission on Social Connection to increase awareness of the impact of social isolation and loneliness on health and have it recognised as a global health priority.
Substantial evidence shows social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer cognitive functioning and an increased risk of dementia, though possibly in different ways.
Among adults aged 50 years and over, chronic (meaning persistent and severe) loneliness and social isolation may increase the risk of dementia by around 50 percent.
A lack of cognitive stimulation that naturally occurs when interacting with others, whether it’s old friends or strangers, might explain the link between social isolation and cognitive difficulties (think “use it or lose it”).
On the other hand, loneliness may impact cognitive health through its effects on emotional wellbeing. It’s a well-known risk factor for developing depression, anxiety and suicidality.
For instance, studies show the chances of developing depression in adults is more than double in people who often feel lonely, compared with those who rarely or never feel lonely.
Other research examining 500,000 middle-aged adults over nine years showed living alone doubled the risk of dying by suicide for men, while loneliness increased the risk of hospitalisation for self-harm in both men and women.
In a 2023 report, the US Surgeon General’s advisory concluded:
Given the totality of the evidence, social connection may be one of the strongest protective factors against self-harm and suicide among people with and without serious underlying mental health challenges.”
What about after release?
When a person leaves long-term isolation, they’ll face many challenges as they re-enter society.
The world will have changed. There’s a lot to catch up on, from technological advancements to shifts in social norms.
In addition to these broader changes, there’s a need to focus on rebuilding physical and mental health. Health issues that developed during isolation can persist or worsen. A weakened immune system might struggle with new infections in a post-COVID world.
To navigate this transition, it’s important to establish a routine that includes regular exercise, nutritious meals and comprehensive medical and psychological care.
Gradually increasing social interactions can also help in rebuilding relationships and social connections. These steps are supportive in restoring overall health and wellbeing in a changed world.
Author details
Carol Maher is a Research Professor in the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at the University of South Australia.
Johanna Badcock is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia and Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. In 2021 she co-founded the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection – an international not-for-profit organisation focused on raising global awareness of the scale and significance of loneliness; encouraging global knowledge sharing to improve impact and reach; and supporting national, systemic frameworks and strategies to end loneliness and promote social connection.
More on the Assange story
Journalism remains a caged bird: While Julian Assange may now be free, it is clear that journalism is not. By Marcus Strom.
Also read Columbia Journalism Review: Julian Assange is free, but troubling journalistic questions remain, which concludes with a warning that the case will “cast a long shadow over the most important kinds of journalism, not just in the United States but around the world”.
Previously at Croakey
2023: Medical leader joins concerted calls for action on Julian Assange and press freedom
2023: On AUKUS and Assange: enough is enough, Prime Minister
2023: Australian MPs call on United States to halt pursuit of Julian Assange
2022: Health leaders urged to throw their weight behind advocacy for Julian Assange
2022: “Let’s bring Julian Assange home” – read Jennifer Robinson’s speech to the National Press Club
2022: A new book argues Julian Assange is being tortured. Will our new PM do anything about it?
2010: Media and trauma professionals urge Gillard Government to stick up for Assange
