Loneliness threat to health
In the article below we learn loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by 26 percent and raises the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression and dementia. There is only one cure and it’s not online. Sufferers simply must find things to do face to face with others. Volunteering at a local nonprofit can work wonders to boost self esteem and feel surrounded by friends. But the quickest thing you can do is find a counselor for a weekly chat. Counseling not only immediately reduces loneliness, but is a source of grandmotherly caring and wisdom for working out emotional issues that may be getting in the way of connecting with others.—MR
An Epidemic of Loneliness Threatens Health of Americans, Surgeon General Says
By Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, May 10, 2023
Americans are facing an epidemic of loneliness, an “underappreciated public health crisis” that needs to be brought to light, said Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in a statement last week. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, about half of adults in the country reported measurable levels of loneliness, which can affect mental, physical and societal health.
