(NAFB) An estimated one in two American adults reports experiencing significant loneliness. The Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Health Effects of Social Connection and Community says loneliness can often be more pronounced in rural communities since fewer people live further away from each other. Nikki Shaffer, the senior director of occupational health and wellness at Pfizer says loneliness can have serious effects on health – both mental and physical.
Isolation and loneliness can contribute to rural mental health challenges that include a mindset of self-reliance that can make it difficult to ask for help; stigma around mental illness with the fear of judgment; or difficulty getting an appointment with a limited number of mental health professionals in rural communities. It’s important to foster connections, which Dr. Shaffer says starts with identifying which connections are the most important to you.
She said that it’s important to understand the difference between loneliness and social isolation. Loneliness is the feeling of being alone or isolated – which can happen even when you’re surrounded by others. Social isolation, on the other hand, is a lack of social connections. Both can be detrimental to your health…
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988. For more tips on reducing loneliness and isolation, go to ruralminds.org.
