CHRONIC LONELINESS IS ONE OF THE MOST URGENT
SOCIAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES OF OUR TIME. 


The Cost of Loneliness Project™ catalyzes a national imperative to spark commitment to,
and investment in, combating loneliness and its devastating emotional, physical, and economic consequences.

 
 
 
 
 

THE PREMISE

Chronic loneliness is often defined as the distressing feeling generated by a lack of meaningful, intimate, and reciprocal interactions. Chronic loneliness is not about how big the social circle is. It’s grounded in how connected to and supported we feel by others.

Academic research and an onslaught of headline news reveal that loneliness is to suicide, addiction, bullying, obesity, gastro-intestinal disease, metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hematological conditions, and more, as poor hygiene is to infection.

COL_website_didyouknow.png

  • Between 25-45% of American adults report being chronically lonely. (Fortune, June 2016)

  • Loneliness increases the odds of a premature death by 26%. (J.Cacioppo, Univ. of Chicago)

 
 
 
Loneliness drivers.jpg

Why Now?

The last 20 years have arguably seen the most rapid transformation to our social health in the history of humankind. Despite being more digitally connected than any generation before us, people across all ages, generations, and backgrounds are feeling increasingly isolated, unseen, and disconnected.

We must take a collective deep breath and evaluate the impact of socially disruptive changes, such as: excessive social media use, decreased organizational memberships, fewer and delayed marriage/partnership, increased working from home, unemployment, a surging senior population, limited outside play and experiences with nature, and reduced time to build meaningful relationships.

Each of these drivers impact feelings of community and belonging, sense of individual purpose, and reciprocal intimacy in harmful ways. Chronic loneliness is one of, but not the only, cause of such devastating outcomes as: suicide, substance abuse, and major depressive disorder.      

  • Suicide Costs The Us Approximately $51 Billion Annually. (CDC Estimates For Treatment And Productivity)

  • Substance Abuse Costs The Us Approximately $700 Billion Annually. (NIDA)

  • Major Depressive Disorder, Suicide, And Addiction Cost The Us Approximately $960 Billion Annually. (CDC, NIMH)

 
 

We're just getting started

The Cost of Loneliness Project™ will connect, convene, and catalyze to identify challenges and research needs; to innovate, share, and leverage solutions; to serve as a resource repository on loneliness; to increase awareness of the costs of chronic loneliness with a goal of destigmatizing this devastating condition; and to create a platform for sharing ideas and solutions.

The project will accomplish this through the following mechanisms (not all inclusive): relationship building, advocacy group support, ambassador outreach, personal outreach, a robust website, podcasts, education, speaking engagements, annual summits, working salons, newsletters, and recognition.

Launching with a diverse coalition of influential experts and a compelling multimedia strategy, our goal is to transform the cultural mindset from treatment of the symptoms and outcomes to prevention of the cause.