The Loneliness Project

GCC and community partners host a series of public conversations about loneliness and its impact on Franklin County residents—our community, our schools, our human service organizations, our faith-based institutions, our health care providers, and our lives.

In May of 2023 U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared loneliness a public health epidemic: “Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health.” Loneliness increases the likelihood of premature death by 26%; 71% of adolescents and young adults report experiencing loneliness versus 50% for those 80 and older; and evidence suggests loneliness contributes significantly to mental health problems, particularly depression and anxiety.

It has even been surmised that loneliness has an impact on our capacity to function as a democracy. As the political divide grows and loneliness peaks, our lack of connection makes us less likely to connect with those who have different points of view—and as we seek to put our arms around the scope of this challenge, we will wrestle with appropriate responses, strategies and solutions.

Free and open to the public; please note additional sessions on Friday, October 20, 12-1pm at the J.W. Olver Transit Center and Thursday, November 9, 6-7 p.m. on Zoom: https://lifepathma-org.zoom.us/j/82733922824?pwd=1zkdBN8ppjtVOGNwbVHNOdRPDCKX18.1