Loneliness Is An Epidemic. 9 Ways Companies Can Help

Forbes May 31, 2024
Dr. Talia Varley

With the rise of remote work and the intense media debate around it, many have heard that loneliness is increasing and it’s bad for our health. In fact, last year, the U.S. surgeon general warned of an epidemic of loneliness and isolation that was intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Unchecked, loneliness can cause a myriad of physical and mental healthcare issues, including cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, dementia and even early death.

“The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity,” according to Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of...