Solving the Loneliness Epidemic: A Webinar

June 16, 2023

Lacking social connection is as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day, according to the Surgeon General's advisory. Not only does loneliness pose severe health risks, but the number of adults suffering from a lack of social connectivity is growing: recent surveys have found that approximately half of U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness, while further studies indicate that loneliness and isolation are more widespread than many of the other major health issues of our day—including smoking, diabetes, and obesity—with comparable levels of risk to health and premature death. Loneliness is an epidemic, and it's on the rise.

On June 16th, the Longevity Project convened four world-class experts and contributors to the Surgeon General's report to discuss the state of the loneliness epidemic, the impact of the report, and promising solutions to addressing the crisis.

Panelists included:

• Mehrdad Ayati, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine — Primary Care and Population Health

• Ashwin Kotwal, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine.

• Harry Reis, Dean’s Professor in the Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology at the University of Rochester.

• Jillian Racoosin, Executive Director of the Foundation for Social Connection and the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness.