As loneliness continues to plague Americans young and old, a top psychiatrist is recommended that people go back to church.

From CBN. The U.S. Surgeon General says loneliness is now a public health threat so severe that it’s on par with smoking and obesity.

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Who is praying on the wall?

For far too many Americans, loneliness can become a painful secret, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D. said, revealing that he experienced this firsthand.

“This is an issue so many people struggle with in the shadows because they feel ashamed. And that was true for me as well,” he told ABC News. …

Murthy said about half of adults are struggling with loneliness and even greater numbers of children are. That can be surprising given the fact that many young people are frequently connecting with their peers online. However, Murthy said technology serves as a poor substitute for in-person connection. …

[Psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen] said loneliness was a serious problem in America before the pandemic, but the COVID-19-related shut-downs made loneliness “exponentially worse.” He points out that while the pandemic is over, many people continue to remain isolated from those with whom they interacted before the pandemic. Therefore, he recommends minimizing screen time while maximizing in-person interactions.

“So it’s back to church,” he said. “Go back to church. Get involved. Get involved with groups. We have to go back. And really, no better place to solve it than the church.” …

Share your prayers about the loneliness epidemic below.

(Excerpt from CBN. Photo Credit: rdegrie/Getty Images via Canva Pro)