Loneliness linked to increased chance of death, says study

A new study looks into the problematic public health issue that is affecting people everywhere.

How is it that with all of the social media and apps people have it's still possible to feel lonely? If you're one of the people that feels this way, just know that you’re not alone. In fact, a new study by Brigham Young University of Health says loneliness could be the next big public health issue--as big as obesity and substance abuse, according to Time Magazine. 

How damaging can loneliness be? According to a study in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science, feeling lonely can increase your risk of death by 26 percent.

There are a lot of reasons why people can feel lonely. Some of them aren't preventable, such as the death of a loved one. Others are more mental or have to do with one's general disposition. While those situations are more reparable, combatting loneliness is still a tremendous task, especially if you truly cannot ask for help from other people. The task of resolving loneliness is a huge one, but if the problem is as significant as the study claims it to be, then it's certainly an issue society should be looking into.

Where do you fit in on the loneliness scale? How often do you pick up the phone and talk to your friends and family? How often do you make the time to see them? Let us know in the comments below.