The average American has only one close friend.

This is troubling (especially during COVID), as loneliness is linked to depression and higher rates of heart attack and premature death.

What we see on the news is COVID deaths but what lies beneath is perhaps an even bigger pandemic waiting to come. It’s not something we talk about. It’s not something that gets reported on CNN or Fox News. But it’s something that is worth talking about before it’s too late.

80% of young adults faced "significant depressive symptoms” during COVID—what happens next? We don’t read about this in the news—yet it may truly be the next pandemic that is brewing in the shadows…the loneliness pandemic.

But what we can do is talk about it. Acknowledge it. To destigmatize mental health. And be there for our loved ones, friends, and colleagues—because you never know what is happening with someone.

A good reminder for me to check in with my family, friends, and colleagues.

“Everyone is going through something that we can’t see.” - Kevin Love

We have another pandemic on our shoulders, and it’s name is called “mental health.” Even before COVID, 20% of the U.S. population experienced mental illness—these were reported cases, and the real figures are likely much higher. And COVID has just made things a lot worse…

The scary thing is that less than 50% of those who actually muster up to courage to seek help actually seek treatment—they get diagnosed and then they don’t get the help they need.

The mental health crisis is real, and it’s often an invisible war that affects more people globally than COVID. And often, there is no vaccine for mental illness and one that lingers on and on and on…

So what can we do? We need to acknowledge that it’s there. It’s real. And be there to support those that may be afraid to speak up.

What I’ve learned is just understanding and being there is often the best medicine we have as friends, family, colleagues, and loved ones.