The Loneliness Crisis
The Loneliness Crisis in the United States: What the Research Reveals
Are you feeling lonely? You are not alone. Loneliness has become more than a personal struggle, and it is now considered a public health crisis in the United States. As a therapist in New York City this is a recurrent concern among the clients I see. I hear daily people of all walks of life speak of their struggles with loneliness that they just can’t shake off. The loneliness epidemic runs the gamut from folks who report a robust social and family life to folks who struggle in social relationships or have distant familial relationships. We may be surrounded by people and be very engaged in our lives and yet feel a deep sense of loneliness and isolation. Conversely, some of us may feel disconnected and disengaged from peers and even from themselves. Loneliness doesn’t discriminate and it can happen to any of us.
Research shows that Americans today are more isolated than ever, with profound consequences for mental and physical health. In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory, The Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, declaring loneliness and social isolation a national epidemic. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of U.S. adults report experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. This issue is not confined to older adults; Gen Z and Millennials report higher rates of social isolation than previous generations, in part due to digital life, economic precarity, sociopolitical crisis, climate change, and disruptions from the recent pandemic.
Distinguishing passing loneliness from more severe and potentially harmful loneliness
Let’s be real, it’s okay to feel loneliness sometimes.
A temporary loneliness is normal and should be expected. This type of loneliness is often situational such as moving to a new city, a breakup, or a weekend without any social plans. This type of loneliness usually lasts hours or days but it passes and improves as the circumstances change. After this temporary loneliness we feel relief and a return to our normal baseline or the way that we usually are. The more severe form of loneliness that engenders harmful effects typically has a free-flowing quality to it where there isn’t a specific situation that brought it up. This more severe form of loneliness can last weeks, months, or longer and it remains unchanged even with opportunities to connect with others. It is also accompanied by more intense feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, and invisibility or unworthiness. Severe loneliness is strongly correlated with depression, anxiety, addictive behaviors, and self-deprecating thinking.
Health Impacts of Loneliness
The science is clear: loneliness is not just an emotion, but a serious health risk. A meta-analysis published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology shows that loneliness is a public mental health issue and it is linked to other mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Prolonged loneliness leads to:
Increased risk of depression and anxiety
Higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease
Weakened immune system function
Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults
A 2020 National Academies of Sciences report found that socially isolated individuals had a 50% increased risk of dementia and a 29% increased risk of heart disease.
Generational and Social Factors
While loneliness affects people across the lifespan, younger adults report particularly high levels. A Cigna survey revealed that 79% of Gen Z and 71% of Millennials experience loneliness, compared to 50% of Boomers. Social media use, while offering connection, often leads to comparison, disconnection, and reduced face-to-face interactions.
Economic pressures also play a role. Rising housing costs, job insecurity, and reduced community engagement have made it harder for younger generations to establish stable social networks. The decline of religious and civic institutions has further eroded traditional sources of community.
The Role of the Pandemic
COVID-19 accelerated trends already underway. During the pandemic the world went fully digital and this increase in digital interactions across social and professional spheres is now the new normal. The lockdowns, remote work, and physical distancing widened existing gaps in social connection. The long-term impact of the pandemic-induced increase in our digital lives lingers, with many struggling to rebuild in-person connections.
Addressing the Crisis
Addressing loneliness requires both individual and systemic solutions:
Strengthening our social network: Systemically: investing in community centers, libraries, and public spaces that foster connection. Individually: spending more time with family and friends and in person when possible.
Promoting mental health support: Systemically: expanding access to therapy, peer groups, and digital resources. Individually: Accessing meaningful support services such as therapy and 12-step programs.
Workplace change: Systemically: encouraging policies that prioritize employee well-being and work-life balance. Individually: working towards greater balance in small ways such as sticking to a healthy schedule and addressing work related stress.
Everyday practices: Simple acts like reaching out to friends, volunteering, and limiting passive social media use can build resilience against loneliness.
How Psychotherapy Can Help
Therapy can play a powerful role in addressing loneliness by helping you understand the root causes of your feelings, whether they stem from past experiences, social anxiety, traumas, or negative thought patterns. In therapy we can create a safe, nonjudgmental space to experience and practice authentic connection and develop coping skills while also dealing with any underlying conditions to your loneliness. Through approaches like attachment-based work, coping skills building, and trauma therapy, we can help you challenge and resolve problematic beliefs such as “I’m unworthy of connection”, help you build confidence in social interactions, and create strategies for forming and sustaining meaningful relationships. Over time, with therapy we can help you reduce the intensity of loneliness, and foster resilience, self-compassion, and a stronger sense of belonging.