Pennsylvania woman embarks on cross-country journey to bring awareness to the loneliness epidemic

Many people around the country experience it but may not talk about it. Now a Pennsylvania woman is breaking the stigma about loneliness.

Lucy Rose wants people to make connections in their lives that matter.

She founded the group Cost of Loneliness Project.

Lucy’s walking across the county listening to people’s stories and putting a face on the loneliness epidemic.

“What we found were people who were quite lonely and very sad and very broken over being lonely,” said Rose.

Doctors confirm the loneliness epidemic is growing.

One survey found 42% of men and 37% of women considered themselves lonely.

“People are reporting fewer friends and less involvement in groups and things of that nature,” said Heather Nawrocki of AARP.

The CDC has found loneliness has serious and wide-ranging impacts on physical and mental health. The risks are comparable to someone smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

“Loneliness is not about how many people are around you. What we’re really looking at is the chronic loneliness, that kind of aches in your heart and chest, and you feel like you don’t belong anywhere,” said Rose, who works as a physician’s assistant.

Rose has started a 51-day journey from Santa Monica, California. Her trek will lead her through 17 states, through Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River Park and end in New York on November 12.

“At the end of our walk, we’re going to have a National Day of Connection,” Rose said.

Rose is already turning strangers into friends, one step at a time along her walk.

To mark the end of her journey, Rose is asking people to make a gesture of support to someone at noon on November 12. She suggests spending 12 or more minutes with someone you care about.

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