APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The U.S. Surgeon General has declared a new public health epidemic in America: loneliness and isolation.
The report addresses that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of adults reported experiencing loneliness and many of them are in Wisconsin.
Widespread loneliness poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily, according to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
In his report, he says loneliness and isolation have been a growing problem across America.
Dr. Robert Reff, clinical director and psychologist at Rogers Behavioral Health in Appleton, says it’s been the same in Wisconsin.
“Loneliness is something that many many of our patients face and that all of us kind of face at times,” said Reff.
Isolation and loneliness are linked to sleep problems, pain, depression, and anxiety.
“I think it’s something that we as a society, we as a culture, need to address because it’s directly impacting families, youth and communities,” said Reff.
The report shows for those in the 15 to 24 age group, their time spent with friends, in person, has been reduced by nearly 70% over almost two decades.
“My first year here at Lawrence was in the fall of 2020 which if you all remember was a very isolating time and I definitely experienced a lot of loneliness,” said Iris Hakes, a student at Lawrence University.
21-year-old Hakes says now, almost three years later, she’s doing a lot better.
“I have three roommates I really love and a wonderful studio,” said Hakes. “I am lucky to not have that experience lately but there are definitely individuals around campus that I see struggling and feel struggling.”
Reff says people show warning signs of loneliness and isolation in different ways.
“What you’re looking for is any change of behavior, so that could be increase in alcohol or drug use, that could be pulling away from things you used to enjoy,” said Reff.
18-year-old Nolan Madrigrano says for him, he hasn’t noticed a change, but has noticed it in some of his friends.
“I know they’ve had a lot of issues with the pandemic since all of that occurred, you know, being shut in and a lot of it really hasn’t resolved itself, even though we’re starting to see a lot more things open up now,” said Madrigrano.
“A lot of the youth when they shut down school’s didn’t get that social engagement that they normally would which is so important for kids and adolescents especially,” said Joanne Klysen, director of community based counseling at Foundations Health & Wholeness.
Klysen says social media may also be to blame.
“We think of social media as making us more connected but it’s making us less connected with that true authentic in person connection,” said Klysen.
