Combating Loneliness Act

Short title— This Act may be cited as the “Combating Loneliness Act”.

Table of contents— The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

36 percent of individuals in the United States report serious loneliness.

61 percent of young adults and over 50 percent of mothers with young children in the United States report serious loneliness.

61 percent of disabled individuals in the United States experience chronic loneliness, with an even higher prevalence of 70 percent among young disabled people in the United States.

LGBTQI+ youth, particularly transgender and Black individuals, experience higher levels of loneliness, depression, and anxiety than their straight or cisgender counterparts.

Black individuals, Indigenous individuals, and individuals of color are disproportionately affected by social loneliness and isolation, with 75 percent of Latinx and Hispanic adults and 68 percent of Black and African American adults categorized as lonely.

Due to fragmented social networks, loneliness is especially pervasive with people experiencing homelessness, with 1 in 5 reporting to have no friends.

Farmers and agricultural workers, predominantly based in rural areas, face heightened risks to mental well-being due to social and geographical isolation.

Older adults face heightened vulnerability to loneliness and social isolation due to factors including living alone, loss of familial and social ties, chronic illness, and impaired hearing.

Elderly individuals are increasingly affected by homelessness and loneliness as their social circles shrink, lifespans increase, and economic challenges grow, making them one of the fastest-growing segments of the homeless population.

Veterans often experience feelings of isolation due to losing touch with their military community, physical or mental health issues, and difficulties adjusting to civilian life.

1 out of every 5 veterans reports that they often feel lonely, leading to higher rates of mental and physical health, as well as suicidal ideation.

Climate-related disasters are associated with negative impacts on mental health nationwide.

People who use social media for more than 2 hours a day are twice as likely to report increased feelings of social isolation than those who were using it for less than 30 minutes a day.

Students with low academic performance may turn to social networking sites to cope with feelings of loneliness and isolation, finding online interactions less stressful than face-to-face relationships.

A shortage of 139,000 primary care physicians is projected by 2033, with particularly concerning deficits anticipated rural areas.

Burnout rates reported by health care workers nationally are higher than in any other industry.

Nearly half of health workers reported often feeling burned out in 2022, up from 32 percent in 2018.

Rural clinics report the highest rates of burnout.

Increased feeling of loneliness and social isolation can lead to an increase in susceptibility to radicalization and violence.

Increased feelings of loneliness lead to a reduced sense of civic duty and lower voter turnout.

Positive relationships with peers, parents, and teachers during childhood and adolescence correlate with improved academic outcomes and predict higher rates of college graduation and attainment of four-year degrees in early adulthood.

Building design incorporating elements that promote physical activity and social interaction enhances health and reduces loneliness among older adults.

Housing with care is effective at reducing loneliness and social isolation in later life, providing better outcomes than living in the general community.

create a national health insurance program that provides comprehensive and essential care to all individuals in the United States, which is critical to building healthier communities;

establish a national paid family and medical leave program that allows every worker to take care of their own health and their families’ health, which creates healthy and vibrant communities;

encourage participation in the arts and the humanities, which provides communities with a foundation to engage in our democracy and fosters an appreciation for our shared cultural heritage;

establish universal early education that supports early childhood development and sets children up for academic success, which is an investment in our children, their families, and future generations;

provide safe, affordable housing that provides working families with stability, which is critical to building vibrant communities;

provide affordable and quality child care that is a lifeline for working families, which is critical to building a stronger economy, workforce, and communities;

address the climate crisis by transitioning to renewable energy, promoting environmental justice, and conserving public and wild lands, which is essential to building resilient communities and a sustainable future;

reduce gun violence through common-sense gun safety reform, which will protect families from senseless gun violence, which is critical to creating safer communities;

build a tax code that works for working families and small businesses, and ensure the wealthy pay their fair share, which is essential in order to invest in critical resources such as housing and mental health care; and

encourage States, counties, and local municipalities to develop policies that have a focus on connection and social connectivity.