Why Young Men Are So Lonely (And Why It's Getting Worse)

Why Young Men Are So Lonely (And Why It's Getting Worse)

How do individuals from all walks of life battle addiction and loneliness at the same time? This episode of *A Little Help For Our Friends* zooms in on young men who feel stuck, alone, and increasingly cut off from real connection. Dr. Kibby McMahon talks directly to the guys themselves, while also speaking to the mums, partners and friends who are watching someone they love withdraw into vaping, drinking and endless screen time.

Drawing on recent Gallup data and surveys, she outlines what she calls a “loneliness loop”: a painful trigger like rejection or job loss, followed by isolation, remote work, gaming and chronic online life that slowly erodes social skills, empathy and confidence. As she puts it bluntly, “Stop talking at people and start talking with people.” Rather than chasing looksmaxxing, quick money schemes or the perfect jawline, Dr.

Kibby offers three practical shifts: small daily acts of service, co-created conversations instead of one‑man shows, and opening up emotionally in a way that’s vulnerable rather than attacking. She shares personal stories, including how her husband’s quiet, thoughtful care—like turning up for surgery and thinking, “How can I help her?”—changed how she saw him and why those behaviours matter far more than income or abs.

For loved ones, there’s guidance on how to stop sinking into invisibility or constant nagging, and instead invite young men into usefulness and real dialogue: asking for help, setting firm boundaries around aggression, and responding with curiosity when they share softer feelings like shame or fear.

If you’ve got a son vaping in his childhood bedroom or a boyfriend stuck in a depressive spiral, or you’re that guy yourself, this conversation offers a different kind of roadmap: less jawline bashing, more human connection. Which of these small steps could you try first?