Loneliness is being treated as a serious health risk Jesse Weinberg for April Health Oct 14, 2026 Oct 14, 2026 Updated 32 mins ago 0 A teen student isolating herself from other students socializing with each other in the classroom. Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Jesse Weinberg for April Health kAmp 76H J62CD 28@[ E96 &]$] $FC86@? v6?6C2=k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]99D]8@G^DFC86@?86?6C2=^AC:@C:E:6D^4@??64E:@?^:?56I]9E>=Qm :DDF65 2 7@C>2= 25G:D@CJ 56D4C:3:?8 =@?6=:?6DD 2?5 D@4:2= :D@=2E:@? 2D 2? 6A:56>:4k^2m — E96 D2>6 <:?5 @7 H2C?:?8 FD65 :? E96 A2DE 7@C AF3=:4 962=E9 >2EE6CD =:<6 D>@<:?8] w6 4@>A2C65 E96 A9JD:42= 962=E9 :>A24E @7 49C@?:4 :D@=2E:@? E@ D>@<:?8 `d 4:82C6EE6D 2 52J]k^AmkAm{@?6=:?6DD 5@6D?’E 2=H2JD >62? 36:?8 2=@?6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2AC:=962=E9]4@>^QmpAC:= w62=E9k^2m C6A@CED] xE 42? 36 76=E :? 2 4C@H5 @C DFCC@F?565 3J DEC2?86CD[ 2?5 :D 4=@D6C E@ 2 766=:?8 @7 =24< @7 4@??64E:@?] p44@C5:?8 E@ C6D62C49 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]HJD2]4@>^=@?6=:?6DD\E96\9:556?\:>A24EQm(JD2k^2m[ ?62C=J @?6 :? E9C66 p>6C:42? 25F=ED @7E6? @C 2=H2JD 766=D =@?6=J] %96 DEF5J[ H9:49 DFCG6J65 a[_cc p>6C:42? 25F=ED =2DE J62C[ F?4@G6C65 2 4@CC6=2E:@? 36EH66? A6CD:DE6?E =@?6=:?6DD 2?5 2 H:56 C2?86 @7 962=E9 DJ>AE@>D :?4=F5:?8 56AC6DD:@?[ 49C@?:4 A2:?[ 72E:8F6[ 2?5 :?D@>?:2]k^Am People are also reading… Remembering, living: Smyth Recovery Court vigil features stories of hope Chilhowie, Marion, Saltville office seekers speak at candidates' forum Trump doles out billions to voters ahead of midterm elections Celebration of Life: Ridgerunner shares the transformation she witnesses Virginia Tech football denied on final play in loss at Cal Goodwill opening Tazewell store Glade Spring woman arrested on Smyth felony warrant Access to Beauty: VDOT celebrates Elk Garden trailhead parking improvements Saltville Town Council appoints Carneal to fill open seat Naming ceremony: Bland County Sheriff's Office's new K9's name honors partnership Virginia football rallies for come-from-behind win over Syracuse Smyth supervisors, school board learn about facilities study, 1% sales tax referendum Somic expansion approved by town Tagged and Sent Out: Citizen scientists at Hungry Mother release monarchs 'We’ve been screwed': How one county shifted on data centers kAm~E96C C6D62C49 92D =:?<65 =@?6=:?6DD 2?5 D@4:2= :D@=2E:@? E@k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^D@4:2=\4@??64E65?6DD^C:D<\724E@CD^:?56I]9E>=Qm 2 9:896C C:D< @7 D6C:@FD A9JD:42= :==?6DD[ DF49 2D 962CE 5:D62D6 2?5 DEC@<6k^2m[ 2?5 2>@?8 @=56C 25F=ED[k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?:2]?:9]8@G^962=E9^=@?6=:?6DD\2?5\D@4:2=\:D@=2E:@?\E:AD\DE2J:?8\4@??64E65Qm 2 D:8?:7:42?E=J :?4C62D65 C:D< @7 56>6?E:2 2?5 4@8?:E:G6 564=:?6k^2m] %9:D :D 3642FD6 49C@?:4 =@?6=:?6DD <66AD E96 3@5J’D DEC6DD C6DA@?D6 A6C>2?6?E=J DH:E4965 @?[ 2?5 @G6C E:>6 E9:D 42? 42FD6 6=6G2E65 DEC6DD 9@C>@?6D 2?5 :?7=2>>2E:@?[ H9:49 :? EFC? AFED AC6DDFC6 @? E96 962CE 2?5 E96 :>>F?6 DJDE6>]k^Am kAm%96 :>A24E @7 =@?6=:?6DD @? >6?E2= 962=E9 :D >@C6 4@>A=6I[ 2D =@?6=:?6DD :Dk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?:>9]?:9]8@G^962=E9^E@A:4D^56AC6DD:@?Qm 3@E9 2 C:D< 724E@C 7@C 56AC6DD:@? 2?5 2 DJ>AE@> @7 :Ek^2m] (96? 2 A6CD@? 6IA6C:6?46D =@?6=:?6DD[ E96J 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 36 H:E95C2H? H9:49[ :? EFC?[ 42? :?4C62D6 E96 DJ>AE@>D @7 56AC6DD:@?[ 2?5 H96? 2 A6CD@? :D 56AC6DD65[ E96J >2J H:E95C2H 7C@> D@4:2=:K:?8] q@E9 =@?6=:?6DD 2?5 56AC6DD:@? 364@>6 2 42FD6 2?5 2 4@?D6BF6?46 @7 6249 @E96C[ 4C62E:?8 2 =@@A E92E >2<6D :E 5:77:4F=E E@ 562= H:E9] %9:D 2=D@ A=246D =@?6=:?6DD 2E E96 46?E6C @7 A9JD:42= 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9[ H9:49 :D H9J :E 92D 5C2H? E96 2EE6?E:@? @7 E96 962=E9 DJDE6>]k^Am kAmpD A6@A=6 286[ E96:C D@4:2= 4:C4=6D 368:? E@ D9C:?<[ >@3:=:EJ @7E6? 564=:?6D[ 2?5 A2CE?6CD 2?5 4=@D6 7C:6?5D 2C6 =@DE[ 2== @7 H9:49 42? =62G6 D@>6@?6 :?4C62D:?8=J :D@=2E65 2?5 =6DD 23=6 E@ 2EE6?5 E96 82E96C:?8D E92E @?46 <6AE E96> 4@??64E65] qFE E96 @E96C 8C@FA 27764E65 :D J@F?8 25F=ED[ H:E9 C6D62C49 C6A62E65=J 7:?5:?8 E92Ek2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>44]8D6]92CG2C5]65F^C6A@CED^=@?6=:?6DD\:?\2>6C:42Qm A6@A=6 2865 `g E@ ad C6A@CE 2>@?8 E96 9:896DE =@?6=:?6DD C2E6D @7 2?J 286 8C@FAk^2m[ 56DA:E6 36:?8 E96 >@DE 4@??64E65 86?6C2E:@? :? 9:DE@CJ[ H:E9 E6IED[ G:56@ 42==D[ 2?5 8C@FA 492ED 2=H2JD 2E E96:C 7:?86CE:AD] !2CE @7 E96 6IA=2?2E:@? >2J 36 E92E 36:?8 @?=:?6 :D ?@E E96 D2>6 2D 766=:?8 4=@D6 E@ D@>6@?6] (:E9 D@4:2= >65:2 AC6D6?E:?8 2 A@=:D965 G6CD:@? @7 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6’D =:76[ H96? 2 J@F?8 A6CD@?’D @H? 6IA6C:6?46 5@6D?’E >2E49 E92E A:4EFC6[ :E 42? 24EF2==J =62G6 E96> 766=:?8 >@C6 2=@?6]k^Am kAm(9:=DE C64@8?:K:?8 =@?6=:?6DD 2D 2 962=E9 C:D< :D 2 8C62E DE6A 7@CH2C5[ 5@:?8 D@>6E9:?8 23@FE :E :D?’E BF:E6 2D D:>A=6] &?=:<6 2 A9JD:42= :==?6DD[ H9:49 FDF2==J 92D 2 4=62C EC62E>6?E A=2? 2?5 :>AC@G6>6?ED[ =@?6=:?6DD 92D ?@ @3G:@FD 4FC6[ 2?5 :ED 42FD6D[ DF49 2D =:G:?8 2=@?6[ H@C<:?8 C6>@E6=J 2?5 76H6C 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 D@4:2= 6G6?ED[ 2C6 ?@E 62D:=J D@=G65] %9:D :D 2=D@ H9J 25G:46 E92E 2>@F?ED E@ E6==:?8 A6@A=6 E@ “AFE E96>D6=G6D @FE E96C6” E6?5D E@ 72:=[ 2D :E 255D AC6DDFC6 E@ E96 A6CD@? 2?5 =@@AD 324< E@ E96 D2>6 4J4=6]k^Am kAm%96 &]$] $FC86@? v6?6C2= C64@8?:K6D E92E E24<=:?8 =@?6=:?6DD C6BF:C6D 3:8 492?86D 24C@DD 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 962=E942C6[ 2?5 E649?@=@8J[ 2D :E :D?VE 2 AC@3=6> :?5:G:5F2=D 42? 7:I 6?E:C6=J @? E96:C @H?] x? C6DA@?D6[ D@>6 962=E942C6 DJDE6>D 92G6 DE2CE65 D4C66?:?8 A2E:6?ED 7@C =@?6=:?6DD 5FC:?8 C@FE:?6 G:D:ED] w@H6G6C[ D4C66?:?8 :D @?=J 96=A7F= :7 E96C6 :D D@>6E9:?8 A@D:E:G6 E92E 42? 36 8:G6? E@ 2==6G:2E6 :E]k^Am kAmq692G:@C2= 962=E9 DFAA@CE[ 2G2:=23=6 5:C64E=J E9C@F89 AC:>2CJ 42C6 5@4E@CD[ :D DE2CE:?8 E@ >2<6 2 5:776C6?46] (:E9 E9:D A2E9H2J[ 2 4@?G6CD2E:@? 23@FE =@?6=:?6DD 42? EFC? :?E@ 2? 24EF2= A=2?[ H96E96C E92EVD @?8@:?8 >6?E2= 962=E9 DFAA@CE[ @C 2? :?EC@5F4E:@? E@ 4@>>F?:EJ AC@8C2>D[ D6?:@C 46?E6CD[ 72:E9 8C@FAD[ @C A66C DFAA@CE ?6EH@C<D :? E96:C 2C62]k^AmkAm%9:D 5@6D?’E >2<6 =@?6=:?6DD D:>A=6 E@ D@=G6[ 3FE AC:>2CJ 42C6 5@6D?VE ?665 E@ D@=G6 =@?6=:?6DD @? :ED @H? E@ >2<6 2 9F86 5:776C6?46 E@ E9@D6 DF776C:?8] xE ;FDE ?665D E@ 36 E96 A=246 H96C6 D@>6@?6 DECF88=:?8 :D ?@E:465[ E2<6? D6C:@FD=J[ 2?5 4@??64E65 E@ E96 <:?5 @7 @?8@:?8 DFAA@CE E92E 42? 24EF2==J 492?86 E96:C EC2;64E@CJ] %92E D9:7E[ 7C@> ?@E:4:?8 =@?6=:?6DD E@ 24E:?8 @? :E[ :D H92E :?E68C2E65 42C6 >@56=D 2C6 3F:=E E@ 255C6DD]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2AC:=962=E9]4@>^4@?E6?E^=@?6=:?6DD\:D\36:?8\EC62E65\2D\2\D6C:@FD\962=E9\C:D<Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2mk6>m H2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2AC:=962=E9]4@>^Qmk6>mpAC:= w62=E9k^6>mk^2mk6>m 2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am 0 Comments Originally published on aprilhealth.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Health Secretary Kennedy launches push on vaccine injuries The initiative is the longtime anti-vaccine activist’s latest step to reshape federal immunization policy. Top 10 questions about breast cancer answered Though sightings of pink ribbons and breast cancer-related information increase during October, it's crucial to keep screenings and clinical b… The pros and cons of being a surrogate Circle Surrogacy reports that becoming a gestational surrogate is a personal choice involving emotional, financial, and time commitments, requ… Workplace bullying: How to identify and deal with it Talkspace reports that workplace bullying affects nearly 49% of Americans, with serious impacts on health and work environment. In a drier world, some infectious diseases are unexpectedly thriving Grist reports that in a drier world, some waterborne diseases like cholera and dengue thrive, highlighting the "drought-disease paradox" amid …
Health Secretary Kennedy launches push on vaccine injuries The initiative is the longtime anti-vaccine activist’s latest step to reshape federal immunization policy.
Top 10 questions about breast cancer answered Though sightings of pink ribbons and breast cancer-related information increase during October, it's crucial to keep screenings and clinical b…
The pros and cons of being a surrogate Circle Surrogacy reports that becoming a gestational surrogate is a personal choice involving emotional, financial, and time commitments, requ…
Workplace bullying: How to identify and deal with it Talkspace reports that workplace bullying affects nearly 49% of Americans, with serious impacts on health and work environment.
In a drier world, some infectious diseases are unexpectedly thriving Grist reports that in a drier world, some waterborne diseases like cholera and dengue thrive, highlighting the "drought-disease paradox" amid …
