Addressing Student Loneliness and Isolation on Campus

Click Here to View Sample Pages 50 Initiatives You Can Put Into Action Many of today’s students are lonely. They often socially isolate rather than engaging with others. They face difficulty forging beneficial social connections. And they’re not quite sure where to turn for assistance. As former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said when declaring loneliness a national epidemic in 2023: “loneliness is more widespread than other major health issues in the U.S.,” likening the mortality impact of being socially disconnected “to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.” You’ve seen loneliness and social isolation in action. It's not just homesickness — it’s something much more insidious. Loneliness is correlated with anxiety, depression, despair, suicidal ideation, adverse long-term emotional and physical health effects, and poorer academic performance. Social connections are essential to our long-term survival, yet a great number of today’s students are struggling — and lonely.