When I read that British Prime Minister Theresa May appointed a minister of loneliness, my first reaction was to laugh. I wondered if the new minister’s job would be to throw street parties or perhaps to set up a government-run internet dating site.
But I’m not laughing anymore.
After interviewing British officials and health professionals, I realize that it’s a good idea that the United States and other countries should seriously consider and, perhaps, copy.
It’s true, there is a silent epidemic of loneliness in the world, and it will only get worse as we live longer and the population ages. Plus, young people are increasingly addicted to Instagram and other social media where many of them might have thousands of virtual friends, but not one single human friend.
