Social Connectedness

Everyone experiences loneliness.

Unchecked, loneliness impacts the health of individuals, families, and communities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines loneliness as the feeling of being alone, regardless of the amount of social contact. You can be lonely even if you’re surrounded by people.

The association between loneliness and poor health, including risk for early death, rivals that of other public health risk factors, including smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and air pollution.

Like loneliness itself, most health impacts are reversible. Individuals, medical providers, employers, and policymakers can take action against this silent epidemic.

Take action against this silent epidemic.

Most health impacts are reversible.