Understanding loneliness and mental health starts with a simple truth: you can feel lonely in a crowded room, in a relationship, or living alone. Loneliness is the painful gap between the connection you have and the connection you need. It’s more common than many people realize, and it matters for health far beyond mood. This guide explains what research says about loneliness and mental health, how loneliness connects to depression and anxiety, and practical ways to feel less lonely.
How Common Is Loneliness?
Loneliness is common. In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on what he called an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, reporting that about half of American adults experience loneliness. As summarized by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the advisory states that social isolation and loneliness are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression, and premature death.
The advisory also described long-term trends behind the problem, including smaller social networks, fewer community ties, and more time spent alone, especially among young adults.
| Loneliness | Social isolation | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A subjective feeling of disconnection | Few social contacts or interactions |
| Can occur without the other? | Yes | Yes |
| Linked to | Depression, anxiety, poor sleep | Heart disease, dementia, premature death |
| What helps | Meaningful connection | More regular contact and community ties |
Effects of Loneliness on Mind and Body
The effects of loneliness reach both mind and body: it’s linked to depression, anxiety, poor sleep, higher stress, and increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia. Chronic loneliness keeps the body’s stress response switched on, which may explain some of these links.
Loneliness and social isolation are related but different. Social isolation is about the number and quality of social contacts; loneliness is the subjective feeling of being disconnected. Someone can be socially isolated without feeling lonely, or feel lonely despite many contacts.
Life transitions often trigger loneliness: moving to a new area, retiring, becoming a parent, losing a partner, or children leaving home. Recognizing these moments as higher-risk times can help you plan for connection rather than waiting for it to happen.
Loneliness isn't a character flaw. It's a signal, like hunger or thirst, that something we need is missing.
Loneliness and Depression
Loneliness and depression feed each other: loneliness raises the risk of depression, and depression makes people withdraw, which deepens loneliness. Depression can also make social contact feel exhausting or pointless, even when people want connection.
Depression is common, especially among young adults, who also report high levels of loneliness. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 18.6% of adults aged 18 to 25 had a major depressive episode in 2021, the highest of any age group.
Share of U.S. adults with at least one major depressive episode, by age.
Feeling disconnected?
A thoughtful evaluation can help. By telehealth across South Carolina and New York.
Social Isolation and Anxiety
Social isolation and anxiety can form a cycle: anxiety, especially social anxiety, can lead people to avoid contact, and isolation can make social situations feel more threatening over time. Breaking the cycle usually involves gradual, supported steps back into connection.
Anxiety is common across adulthood. NIMH estimates that 19.1% of U.S. adults had an anxiety disorder in the past year, with rates above 20% for adults under 60. Our guide to social anxiety disorder explains how that condition is treated.
Share of U.S. adults with any anxiety disorder in the past year, by age.
Loneliness often carries shame, which keeps people from mentioning it, even to doctors. Naming it is a useful first step. Clinicians understand that loneliness is common and that it has real effects on health, and they can help you plan for change.
How to Feel Less Lonely
Feeling less lonely usually starts with small, consistent steps toward connection, such as reaching out to one person, joining a regular activity, volunteering, or reconnecting with an old friend, rather than waiting to feel ready. Quality matters more than quantity.
- Reach out to one person. Send a message or make a call to someone you trust.
- Join something regular. Choose a weekly class, group, or volunteer shift.
- Say yes more often. Accept invitations, even briefly.
- Limit passive scrolling. Swap some screen time for direct contact.
- Treat what’s in the way. Get help for depression or anxiety that blocks connection.
Online connection can help, especially for people with limited mobility or who live far from family, but it works best when it leads to real conversation rather than passive scrolling. A video call with a friend usually does more than an hour of browsing feeds.
If depression or anxiety is making connection feel impossible, treating those conditions often makes it easier to reconnect. Our guides to anxiety and depression together and therapy vs medication explain the options.
Feeling alone, even around people
A persistent sense of disconnection that’s affecting mood, sleep, and motivation.
Support that addresses both
An evaluation of depression or anxiety and practical steps toward connection.
Reconnected and steadier
Better mood and relationships that feel meaningful again.
Dr. Gabriella Farkas, MD PhD
Board-certified adult psychiatrist with a PhD in neuroscience. Dr. Farkas looks at mood, anxiety, and life circumstances together, including the role of connection.
About Dr. Farkas →When to Get Help
Get help if loneliness comes with persistent low mood, loss of interest, hopelessness, or anxiety that keeps you from people, or if you’ve been feeling this way for weeks or longer. Loneliness itself isn’t a diagnosis, but it can signal or contribute to conditions that respond to treatment.
A comprehensive adult psychiatric evaluation can look at mood, anxiety, and life circumstances together. Our guide to adjustment disorder covers struggles after life changes like a move or loss. If you’re having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 in the US.
Key Terms
- Loneliness
- The subjective feeling of lacking the connection you need.
- Social isolation
- Having few social contacts or interactions.
- Social connection
- Meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging.
- Withdrawal
- Pulling away from people and activities, common in depression.
Common Questions About Loneliness
How does loneliness affect mental health?
Loneliness affects mental health by raising the risk of depression and anxiety, disrupting sleep, and increasing stress, and depression can deepen loneliness in return. It also affects physical health. The Surgeon General called it an epidemic in 2023. It's common. Support helps. Small steps help. You're not alone. Support is available.
How common is loneliness?
Loneliness is common; a 2023 U.S. Surgeon General advisory reported that about half of American adults experience it, with high rates among young adults. It's not a personal failing. Many people feel it. Connection can be rebuilt. Help is available. Small steps help. You're not alone. Support is available.
Can loneliness cause depression?
Loneliness can raise the risk of depression, and depression can lead to withdrawal that deepens loneliness, so the two often feed each other. Breaking the cycle helps both. Treating depression can make connection easier. Small steps help. An evaluation can clarify it. Small steps help. You're not alone. Support is available.
What is the difference between loneliness and social isolation?
Loneliness is the subjective feeling of disconnection, while social isolation is having few social contacts; someone can be isolated without feeling lonely or feel lonely despite many contacts. Both affect health. Both can be addressed. Quality of connection matters. Support helps. Small steps help. You're not alone. Support is available.
How can I feel less lonely?
You can feel less lonely by taking small, consistent steps, such as reaching out to one person, joining a regular activity, volunteering, or reconnecting with an old friend, and by getting help for depression or anxiety that gets in the way. Start small. Be consistent. Quality matters. Progress builds. Small steps help.
When should I see a psychiatrist about loneliness?
See a psychiatrist if loneliness comes with persistent low mood, loss of interest, hopelessness, or anxiety that keeps you from people, especially for weeks or longer. Loneliness itself isn't a diagnosis. It can signal treatable conditions. An evaluation helps. Thoughts of suicide need urgent help. Small steps help. You're not alone.
Can I get help by telehealth?
Yes, Dr. Farkas evaluates and treats depression and anxiety, including when loneliness is part of the picture, by secure telehealth for adults in South Carolina and New York. You'll need a private space. A device with a camera works well. Therapy referrals can be arranged. Follow-ups use the same platform. Small steps help.
Connection can be rebuilt.
Care that looks at mood and connection together.
Sources
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. “Surgeon General Advisory on Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” AHRQ Academy for Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care, 2023. https://integrationacademy.ahrq.gov/news-and-events/news/surgeon-general-advisory-epidemic-loneliness-and-isolation
- National Institute of Mental Health. “Major Depression.” NIMH Statistics, 2021 NSDUH data. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
- National Institute of Mental Health. “Any Anxiety Disorder.” NIMH Statistics. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
Educational content only. This article does not constitute medical advice and does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. Treatment decisions should be made with a qualified clinician familiar with your circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026.