The College of Southern Idaho hosts a symposium focusing on combating loneliness

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) —Loneliness is an issue that impacts nearly half of all American adults, according to a U.S. Surgeon General report.

“As a college student myself, I’ve faced loneliness,” Valeria Rodriguez, CSI Student Body President said.

Rodriguez took part in the Social Science and Humanities Symposium focusing on loneliness in our community.

It’s an issue spotlighted by a 2023 U.S. Surgeon General report, which declared loneliness an epidemic.

Rodriguez says that speaking about this topic on a college campus can help students who feel that way, “Well, I think loneliness is inevitable in the college journey at any point so I think even just like towards the end of the semester this being talked about, it’s it’s kind of fascinating itself.”

Doctor Michael Konrad, an assistant professor Psychology, was one of the speakers at the event and talked about what groups are more at risk to feel lonely.

“One is adolescent girls and then you can really correlate social l media and technology to that population as well. 65 and older sometimes we forget about our senior citizens,” Dr. Konrad said.

The Surgeon General’s report found that loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk for premature death by almost 30%.

This symposium doesn’t just look to raise awareness about this problem, but also provide ways to solve it.

“One pick up the phone, call someone. Texting is great and all, but if we can have that conversation where we can hear each other’s voice, that does just a world of difference. Unplug get away from the technology, take a walk with a friend. You don’t need 15 to 20 people to feel like you’re not lonely anymore. You just need one close person that you feel like you’re attached to,” Konrad explained.

Important information helping individuals, and those looking to help others, “As student body President, I’m kind of here to get more knowledge on like facts and hear more from professionals like on the topic of that. And so just so I can incorporate that more into what we do on campus in terms of student leadership,” Rodriguez stated.

The symposium continues Friday at the College of Southern Idaho.

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