Louisiana is home to a lot of lonely hearts
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Nearly half of Louisianans reported feeling lonely in the latest vibe check from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Why it matters: Feelings of isolation and loneliness are a real public health threat — so much so that Surgeon General Vivek Murthy last year issued an advisory on the matter.
Driving the news: In the newest Household Pulse Survey, 40.8% of Louisiana's adults said they experienced feelings of loneliness at least sometimes, which was slightly higher than the national average of 40.3%.
Zoom in: Alaska (45.9%), Oregon (44.7%) and Virginia (43.3%) had the highest rates of loneliness.
- Iowa (35.9%), Delaware (36.5%) and Wisconsin (37%) had the lowest.
Between the lines: Feelings of loneliness may be at least partially tied to weather.
- As the days get shorter in New Orleans, you could start feeling the winter blues — or worse.
- Feeling some sadness during the darker months is normal, but the American Psychiatric Association says 5% of U.S. adults deal with something more serious: seasonal affective disorder or seasonal depression. Go deeper.
The bottom line: Getting out there and making some connections can do wonders for your mental health, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum reports.
- And, if you find yourself in a mental health crisis, call 988 to talk with someone. Calls are confidential, and follow-ups or connections to additional resources only happen by the caller's choice.
- The hotline is open to anyone experiencing mental health distress, whether from everyday difficulties like family challenges or a breakup, to more severe feelings of emotional crisis, Axios' Chelsea Brasted writes.
How they did it: The HPS is a brief online survey designed to quickly assess Americans' economic and financial wellbeing, among other topics.
- It was conducted between July 23-Aug. 19, with nearly 60,000 respondents.