Letters to the Editor, August 26, 2013

The purpose of this letter is to raise people's awareness about the negative effect on health caused by retirement.

The London-based Institute of Economic Affairs found that retirement increased the chances of suffering from depression by 40 per cent, according to a report published on the BBC website earlier this month.

It also said retirement increased the probability of having at least one diagnosed physical ailment by about 60 per cent.

It should be noted that during the first year of retirement, health actually improved, but two to three years later retirees' mental and physical conditions began deteriorating, according to the institute.

Other studies show that health problems, both physical - such as hypertension, arthritis, heart disease and stroke - and mental - such as depression - are exacerbated by retirement, whichever age a person retires at.

The reasons why health declines after retirement are largely connected with the lack of mental and social stimulation. When the core social network, which is often offered by work, is removed, health then declines. The retiree can get lonely and research suggests that loneliness leads to mental illness that can lead to physical illness.