Imagine facing the challenges of COVID-19 and social distancing while trying to keep your mental health intact. In this episode of the 'Stigma Podcast - Mental Health', host Stephen Hays sits down with Kasley Killam, a public health advocate and Harvard scholar, to discuss the impact of isolation and loneliness on our well-being.

Kasley brings her expertise as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and contributing writer for Scientific American to the table, sharing practical tips on how to stay connected even when physical interaction isn't possible. The conversation dives into the differences between loneliness and isolation, why both can be so debilitating, and what we can do to combat these feelings. Kasley also highlights the role of digital connections and community-building in maintaining social health during these trying times.

If you're looking for actionable advice on protecting your mental health during the pandemic, this episode offers a wealth of insights and strategies. Tune in for a heartfelt discussion that not only addresses the challenges but also provides hope and practical solutions for staying mentally healthy.

Kasley Killam discusses combating loneliness and maintaining mental health during COVID-19 on the 'Stigma Podcast - Mental Health'.

Mental Health in Isolation: Kasley Killam's Guide to Staying Connected

In the time of COVID-19 and social distancing, it’s important to know how we can maintain our mental health.  <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/kasleykillam/">Kasley Killam</a>, joins me for a conversation about loneliness, and isolation during this trying time and how we can protect our mental health even when we may not be able to connect physically with others. Kasley is a Masters of Public Health Candidate at the Harvard School of Public Health.  She is also a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and a social health advocate as well as a Contributing Writer at Scientific American (and has been for 5 years).  In March, 2020 she published an article in Scientific American titled, “<a href= "https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-prevent-loneliness-in-a-time-of-social-distancing/">How to Prevent Loneliness in a Time of Social Distancing</a>.”  In this conversation we cover her suggestions on this topic, and we dig into what isolation is, how it’s different than loneliness and why both impact us as humans so much. Connect with Kasley: <a href="http://kasleykillam.com/">Her Website</a>, <a href= "https://twitter.com/KasleyKillam">Twitter</a>, <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/kasleykillam/">LinkedIn</a>, <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/killam.with.kindness/">Instagram</a>, Some of Kasley’s recent writing: <a href= "https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-prevent-loneliness-in-a-time-of-social-distancing/"> How to Prevent Loneliness in a Time of Social Distancing</a> <a href= "http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hug-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away/"> A Hug a Day Keeps the Doctor Away</a> <a href= "http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-need-for-human-connection-in-digital-mental-health-care/"> The Need for Human Connection in Digital Mental Health Care</a>   HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT: <ol class="ol1"> <li class="li1">What is loneliness?  What is Isolation?  Kasley describes the difference between loneliness and isolation as well as physical impacts that a lack of social interaction can have on the human body. Social Isolation – Is about being physically isolated.  It’s objective.  It could be because you live alone, or you have physical limitations or you lack transportation, etc. Loneliness – Feeling connected to other people.  It’s subjective.  Do you feel like you have people you can reach out to and connect with? </li> <li class="li1">Chronic loneliness and social isolation can impact your health in a number of ways including these examples.  Here are some examples of how isolation can negatively impact our health:            a. More likely to catch a cold            b. More likely to experience depression            c. Increased risk of heart disease/stroke            d. Shortened life span            e. Decreased immunity            f. Increased inflammation            g. Decreased happiness, joy, sense of purpose    </li> <li class="li1">Loneliness is on the rise, but is certainly not a “new thing.” Kasley referenced a Cigna survey launched in January 2020 where they polled 10,000 American adults.  They found that across all age groups that 61% of people are lonely, compared to 54% the year prior.  This is particularly common among Gen Z who reported 79% feeling lonely.  This has been an issue long before this pandemic.  <a href= "https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/about-us/newsroom/studies-and-reports/combatting-loneliness/cigna-2020-loneliness-report.pdf"> Link here to Loneliness Survey conducted by Cigna</a>. </li> <li class="li1"> Why are we so lonely?  Common reasons:           a. People are increasingly living alone           b. Technology - easy to blame and the evidence is                      mixed           c. Less participation in social clubs and community                    organizations           d. People have less time to invest in relationships                      as they are working more           e. Social anxiety </li> <li class="li1"> How can we fight against isolation during this time of social distancing?  Kasley tells us that one universal that we are all going through is that we are having to adapt and figure out how to function and flourish during this time.  There are a number of things we can and should be doing including:            a. Reflect on what social well-being looks like for                       you. This is different for everyone. This can                             include contemplating questions such as "how                       much time do I want to spend interacting with                       other people?" and "how do I spend quality time                   with others?"            b. Make a list of the people you want to keep in                         touch with and focus on the relationships we                         want to prioritize in our lives. We need to figure                     out how we want to engage with those people.              c. Connect at least once a day with people on our                     list, or more, if we can. </li> <li class="li1">We also talked about how technology plays a role in both creating isolation, and how technology can be a tool to provide connectivity at the same time.  When discussing how to use technology in a healthy way Kasley explained that technology is often to blame for isolation, and it’s true, because many of us have unhealthy habits with social media and technology.  Kasley recommends that we use this time to figure out how we can use technology in ways that support your social well-being. </li> <li class="li1">We also talked about how introverts and extroverts handle isolation and loneliness differently as well as what healthy can look like for different types of personalities both during this time and later when we return to our old way of life. </li> <li class="li1">We also talked about what socially healthy use of technology and social media can look like now and in the future.  Kasley gives us tips on how to define what healthy looks like for ourselves and how we can manage our engagement with our devices and social media. </li> <li class="li1">Finally, Kasley gave us an overview of what a Masters of Public Health program is about, why she chose to get into the psychology space and what she plans to do once she obtains her Masters.</li> </ol> Connect with the Stigma Podcast in the following ways: <a href= "https://stigmapodcast.com/">Website</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/StigmaCast">Twitter</a>, <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/Stigma-Podcast-105616270782583/"> Facebook</a>, <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/company/stigma-podcast/">LinkedIn</a>, <a href= "mailto:info@stigmapodcast.com">Email</a> Connect with host Stephen Hays here: <a href= "https://stephenrhays.com/">Stephen Hays Personal Website</a>, <a href= "https://twitter.com/hazesyah">Twitter</a>, <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-hays-71b571101/">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://whatif.vc/">What If Ventures (Mental Health Venture Fund)</a>

#31 - COVID-19, Isolation, Loneliness and Your Mental Health with Kasley Killam

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Stephen Hays is a recovering addict, living with type-1 bipolar disorder.  He spent years living in addiction, and with untreated mental illness while he went from West Point graduate, to Wall Street Banker to nearly taking his own life when he hit bottom.  On this show you will hear stories of addiction, mental illness, recovery, hope, and wellness.  You will also hear from clinicians, experts, doctors, entrepreneurs and others who are trying to lead other people to wellness.  We would love to hear your story too!

Stigma Podcast - Mental Health

Imagine facing the challenges of COVID-19 and social distancing while trying to keep your mental health intact. In this episode of the 'Stigma Podcast - Mental Health', host Stephen Hays sits down with Kasley Killam, a public health advocate and Harvard scholar, to discuss the impact of isolation and loneliness on our well-being.Kasley brings her expertise as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and contributing writer for Scientific American to the table, sharing practical tips on how to stay connected even when physical interaction isn't possible. The conversation dives into the differences between loneliness and isolation, why both can be so debilitating, and what we can do to combat these feelings. Kasley also highlights the role of digital connections and community-building in maintaining social health during these trying times.If you're looking for actionable advice on protecting your mental health during the pandemic, this episode offers a wealth of insights and strategies. Tune in for a heartfelt discussion that not only addresses the challenges but also provides hope and practical solutions for staying mentally healthy.

Stephen Hays

Stephen Hays

#31 - COVID-19, Isolation, Loneliness and Your Mental Health with Kasley Killam

#31 - COVID-19, Isolation, Loneliness and Your Mental Health with Kasley Killam

#31 - COVID-19, Isolation, Loneliness and Your Mental Health with Kasley Killam

Friday 3rd April 2020

About this podcast

Stigma Podcast - Mental Health

Mental Health in Isolation: Kasley Killam's Guide to Staying Connected