Loneliness is a state of mind of feeling disconnected from others. People who feel lonely may feel left out, lack companionship, and struggle to connect.  Related to loneliness, social isolation focuses on the lack of connections someone may have.   There are also mental and physical implications related to feeling lonely such as depression, anxiousness, or negative self-talk as to why they can’t connect with others. Physically, loneliness causes poor sleeping habits and a greater risk of medical issues, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and, most dire, early death. 

One in 6 people worldwide are affected by loneliness, and the percentage is highest among 13-17 year olds, according to the latest report by the World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Connection.

The young people we serve are especially at risk as the sudden absence of daily interactions and shared experiences of a parent often result in loneliness and/or mental health struggles.  Seedling Mentors are in a prime position to teach their mentee how to build community in order to combat loneliness and social isolation by modeling the way and building an authentic relationship with them.  Additionally, skills like how to start conversations, read social cues, how to confidently meet and greet others, practice empathy, and listening and understanding can be role modeled through mentoring.

Mentors can also help mentees build their community by:

• visiting the school’s website or club bulletin board.  Look at the options together and talk about what might interest your mentee.
• inviting your mentee to talk about what kind of friend they are, what qualities do they have that they are also looking for in a friend?  Have some qualities you admire about your mentee and share with them.  In turn, talk about the steps you take to make friends.

All of this and more is presented in the December Training Video.  As always, if you have any questions or would like to discuss this topic further, please reach out to your Seedling Mentor Director.