There’s a quiet epidemic hurling through Colorado, and it’s not one that makes the news. Until something tragic happens. Daily it shows up in the emergency rooms and the therapist’s offices. We see it at empty dinner tables all over the state. It’s loneliness. U.S. surgeon general Vive k Murthy placed a spotlight on America’s problem with loneliness when he declared it an epidemic in the spring of 2023. In his advisory, Murthy explained that loneliness is far more than “just a bad feeling” and represents a major public health risk for both individuals and society. This risk includes Colorado. The Colorado Health Access Survey tells us, 22% of adults feel isolated or left out. 79% of young adults aged 18–24 report feeling lonely. That’s the very people we keep insisting should “get involved.” But it’s impossible to be involved alone. We talk about mental illness in this state like it’s – a train no one saw coming. But we already know that loneliness is a strong driver of anxiety, depression, substance use, and self-harm. Researchers compare the health impact of chronic loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day! And yet, we treat loneliness like a character flaw: something you’re supposed to push or pray through. We have to stop doing that. Research shows that loneliness doesn’t care about politics or zip codes. But it shows itself in certain circumstances. Unmarried people report more loneliness, Coloradans with lower incomes experience higher rates of loneliness. In Colorado, about 30% of people with disabilities report being lonely. Estimates point out a quarter of senior Coloradans being isolated which can lead to being lonely as well. And despite all our apps and notifications, it’s getting worse. Digital connection isn’t the same as being loved. Colorado is facing a mental health crisis and loneliness is the engine powering its movement forward. Engines don’t stop by accident. They stop because we cut the fuel. So, what cuts the fuel? Not another state plan. Those are written by people who will never sit at the dinner table of the person they want to “help.” People heal in community. And Colorado Springs is quietly proving that. In 2024, the City of Colorado Springs heralded a 1,000-gathering initiative. There were 880 registered gatherings. More than 55,000 people attended. At least 10,000 new connections were made between hosts and their neighbors. 96% of hosts felt more connected to their neighborhood after hosting a gathering. Unfortunately, the program was not renewed. So, friends, fighting loneliness is up to us. Especially during the holidays. We must organize gatherings ourselves. No labels. Just music, activities for the kids, and a community room full of people who don’t want anyone to spend the holiday season alone. The idea is simple: loneliness loses when someone pulls up a chair. That’s the idea behind grassroots gatherings like The Vendor Takeover, which has become one of the most joyful community-building engines in the region. Many other local organizations like the COS Podcast and the Never Alone Project are gathering people to share stories. And space. We underestimate how much these organic, homegrown efforts matter. They work because they restore something policy can never replicate … belonging. And yes — policy has a place. In Colorado we need transportation links that let people reach each other. We need public spaces designed for connection. We need social-health metrics to be taken as seriously. (That column is coming another day). Today’s column is about what we can do to help. Every Coloradan can help weaken the loneliness epidemic right now: – Call the friend you keep meaning to call. – Join a group, even if you’re nervous. – Volunteer. Shared purpose grows connection. – Stop scrolling. And visit. Loneliness dies in community. Colorado has always been a place where people look out for each other – after floods, fires, and shutdowns. Maybe now it’s time we look out for each other in the quiet epidemic of loneliness too. If you’re reading this and feeling lonely, hear me clearly: You are not the only one who feels this way. You are worthy of the love you hope for. Community is waiting for you. Just reach out one more time. Rachel Stovall is an event manager, entertainer and community advocate. ...read more read less