Dr. Aditi Nerurkar

The Surgeon General, who, by the way, Vivek Murthy is my friend from college, and now he is the Surgeon General. Look at that, right? The Surgeon General has said that loneliness is an urgent public health crisis. He wrote a book about it. When you look at the statistics for loneliness, it is so eye-opening. In the U.S., 50% of adults experience loneliness.

The Surgeon General, who, by the way, Vivek Murthy is my friend from college, and now he is the Surgeon General. Look at that, right? The Surgeon General has said that loneliness is an urgent public health crisis. He wrote a book about it. When you look at the statistics for loneliness, it is so eye-opening. In the U.S., 50% of adults experience loneliness.

The Surgeon General, who, by the way, Vivek Murthy is my friend from college, and now he is the Surgeon General. Look at that, right? The Surgeon General has said that loneliness is an urgent public health crisis. He wrote a book about it. When you look at the statistics for loneliness, it is so eye-opening. In the U.S., 50% of adults experience loneliness.

Amongst Gen Z, that number is even higher. So from 18 to 25, that number is even higher, 78%.

Amongst Gen Z, that number is even higher. So from 18 to 25, that number is even higher, 78%.

Amongst Gen Z, that number is even higher. So from 18 to 25, that number is even higher, 78%.

I love that. I will also say, Mel, that when you're talking about something like loneliness, the first step, like we talked about earlier, right? Normalize and validate. So when you share data, it is meant to shock in terms of like, wow, I can't believe that this is what's happening. Maybe I'm not alone then.

I love that. I will also say, Mel, that when you're talking about something like loneliness, the first step, like we talked about earlier, right? Normalize and validate. So when you share data, it is meant to shock in terms of like, wow, I can't believe that this is what's happening. Maybe I'm not alone then.

I love that. I will also say, Mel, that when you're talking about something like loneliness, the first step, like we talked about earlier, right? Normalize and validate. So when you share data, it is meant to shock in terms of like, wow, I can't believe that this is what's happening. Maybe I'm not alone then.

And so the data, yes, it is jarring and striking, but it should hopefully, if you're listening, make you feel like, wow, 50% of adults, 78% of Gen Z. In the latest report by the Surgeon General on parental stress and mental health, 65% of parents feel lonely and 77% of single parents experience loneliness. So it's everywhere. The difference, I love your question.

And so the data, yes, it is jarring and striking, but it should hopefully, if you're listening, make you feel like, wow, 50% of adults, 78% of Gen Z. In the latest report by the Surgeon General on parental stress and mental health, 65% of parents feel lonely and 77% of single parents experience loneliness. So it's everywhere. The difference, I love your question.

And so the data, yes, it is jarring and striking, but it should hopefully, if you're listening, make you feel like, wow, 50% of adults, 78% of Gen Z. In the latest report by the Surgeon General on parental stress and mental health, 65% of parents feel lonely and 77% of single parents experience loneliness. So it's everywhere. The difference, I love your question.

What is the difference between feeling alone and being lonely? Alone is a physical state. So you can be alone and feel fine. Loneliness is an emotional experience. So when you think of yourself like Sawyer just traveled alone through Asia. I have also in my single days traveled alone. Didn't feel lonely. It's a physical state of being. You're alone.

What is the difference between feeling alone and being lonely? Alone is a physical state. So you can be alone and feel fine. Loneliness is an emotional experience. So when you think of yourself like Sawyer just traveled alone through Asia. I have also in my single days traveled alone. Didn't feel lonely. It's a physical state of being. You're alone.

What is the difference between feeling alone and being lonely? Alone is a physical state. So you can be alone and feel fine. Loneliness is an emotional experience. So when you think of yourself like Sawyer just traveled alone through Asia. I have also in my single days traveled alone. Didn't feel lonely. It's a physical state of being. You're alone.

Feeling lonely is an emotional experience and you can be lonely in a crowd of people. So it's less about interfacing, you know, who's around you and rather what's happening internally.

Feeling lonely is an emotional experience and you can be lonely in a crowd of people. So it's less about interfacing, you know, who's around you and rather what's happening internally.

Feeling lonely is an emotional experience and you can be lonely in a crowd of people. So it's less about interfacing, you know, who's around you and rather what's happening internally.

The fascinating thing about loneliness, and this is why I was saying I love talking about it, is because when you think about loneliness, most people, you'll say it's a mental health thing, right? We know that it increases your risk of anxiety or depression, insomnia. But loneliness doesn't just have mental health manifestations. It also has physical health manifestations.

The fascinating thing about loneliness, and this is why I was saying I love talking about it, is because when you think about loneliness, most people, you'll say it's a mental health thing, right? We know that it increases your risk of anxiety or depression, insomnia. But loneliness doesn't just have mental health manifestations. It also has physical health manifestations.