“In my opinion, loneliness is the root cause of our mental health crisis. Loneliness is now one of the most important problems our generation has to solve, alongside climate change and obesity.” - **Hugo Amsellem,** general partner at Intuition.

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We live in a world more interconnected than ever.

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• Where social media and emerging technologies allow people to communicate instantly, breaking down barriers of time and distance.

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Paradoxically, in this interconnected world, an epidemic of loneliness persists.

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• Despite the unprecedented levels of connectivity, loneliness has become a widespread and growing issue, as virtual connections often lack the depth of real human interaction. Many individuals feel more isolated than ever.

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A phenomenon that has existed for a long time but has accelerated following the COVID-19 pandemic.

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• The rise in loneliness accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this phenomenon has roots dating back to the 1970s. According to cultural historian Fay Bound Alberti's 2019 book, A Biography of Loneliness : The History of an Emotion, chronic forms of loneliness didn't exist before the 19th century. Capitalism and secularism are the parents of contemporary loneliness.

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The consequences of loneliness are impactful.

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• Physical and mental health threats
• Shorten a person’s lifespan
• Economic repercussions