Susan Mettes – The Loneliness Epidemic

What makes people lonely and what we can do about it? Susan Mettes is a behavioural scientist with extensive experience conducting research for faith-based organizations including Barna Group, Thrivent Financial and World Vision. ‘The Loneliness Epidemic – Why So Many of Us Feel Alone – and How Leaders Can Respond’ is published by Brazos Press, a division of the Baker Publishing Group. . (1:30) Has the Covid Pandemic actually increased loneliness? (2:11) How we define loneliness; (3:30) Research on loneliness; (4:41) How researchers measure loneliness; (5:33) Why Christians in the States find loneliness embarrassing; (7:30) The New Zealand statistics; (8:16) Are some countries lonelier than others? (10:16) Do we need loneliness from time to time? (11:25) A ‘friendship’ crisis; (12:51) The church has a loneliness problem; (13:52) What the church can do about loneliness? (17:11) Social media impact on loneliness; (18:53) How we can protect ourselves from loneliness; (21:15) A cure for loneliness?    Links mentioned in this episode: Baker Publishing Group The Loneliness Epidemic: Why So Many of Us Feel Alone-and How Leaders Can Respond Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast