Understanding loneliness: a common mental health struggle for parents and kids

WHEN it comes to mental health, parents and kids often find themselves at odds over what matters most.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

But a groundbreaking survey reveals one powerful insight they both agree on: loneliness is the biggest mental health challenge young people face today.

The Intergenerational Stressors Study surveyed 1 000 parent and child pairs in the US and found that both groups agree: loneliness is the top emotional issue for young people.

This problem is not limited to the US; families around the world are facing the same challenge.

Parents and kids may not always agree, but their shared concern about loneliness shows that families, schools, and communities need to help people connect more deeply. Let’s look at how loneliness affects both groups, why it is so common, and what we can do to help.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently named loneliness a global public health concern, placing it alongside issues like obesity and smoking due to its long-term impact on both physical and mental health.

Prolonged loneliness doesn’t just make us sad; it changes how our bodies function. Studies show that chronic loneliness can raise stress hormones, weaken immunity, and even shorten life expectancy.

Many adults think of loneliness as something that comes with age or living alone, but research shows that young people today are actually some of the loneliest. Even though social media makes it seem like everyone is connected, many teens and young adults feel left out or unnoticed.