Front Burner

COVID-19 unlocks wave of loneliness

Loneliness was a public health crisis long before COVID-19. Today, the coronavirus pandemic is threatening to harm the mental health of millions of people as lockdowns continue around the world.
A solitary woman stands at an open door and looks out outside.
Loneliness posed a public health crisis for many countries years before anyone heard of COVID-19. (Chayanin Wongpracha/Shutterstock)

Loneliness posed a public health crisis for many countries years before anyone heard of COVID-19. But how is loneliness exacerbated when we are forced to isolate for weeks and months? Who is most vulnerable? And what are some of the long-term emotional implications of this lockdown?

We explore the different types of loneliness this pandemic is unlocking with cultural historian Fay Bound Alberti.