Utah experiencing higher levels of loneliness than the national average
Mar 2, 2023, 12:40 PM | Updated: Mar 3, 2023, 3:31 pm
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) reports more than one-third of adults aged 45 years old and older feel lonely. (Shuttershock)
(Shuttershock)
Hear Dr. Shairi Turner 👇 from the Crisis Text Line on Utah’s Noon News
SALT LAKE CITY — As a whole, the United States is experiencing a loneliness epidemic. And Utah’s numbers of loneliness are higher than the national average.
Consequently, as the crisis continues unabated, it severely impacts the mental health of Americans.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) reports more than one-third of adults aged 45 years old and older feel lonely. Additionally, nearly one-fourth of adults 65 years of age and older are considered to be socially isolated.
One tool Americans have been using is the Crisis Text Line. The text line provides free 24/7 mental health support via text. The national nonprofit reported that in 2021, the national average of texters experiencing issues with isolation and loneliness was 19.7%.
Comparatively, the amount of Utah texters experiencing the same thing was above the national average at 20.1%.
Solutions to loneliness
Dr. Shairi Turner, is the Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line. She joined KSL NewsRadio with tips on how Salt Lake City residents can combat loneliness and isolation.
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