ISMA President Richard Gunderman, MD, spoke before a packed library on Tuesday evening as part of the Spirit and Place Festival, sponsored by Indiana University, ISMA, and Hussey Mayfield Library in Zionsville. Dr. Gunderman’s discussion kicked off the event with the topic of loneliness. Through insights from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the writings of St. Augustine, the life of Vincent van Gogh, and today's public health research, he explored the causes of loneliness and practical ways to foster deeper connections in lives and communities. 

“Want to reduce your risk of death by half?” Dr. Gunderman said. “Join a club. Want to reduce it in half again? Join another club.”

Dr. Gunderman also discussed the documented statistics surrounding loneliness, which include that being lonely can have the same impact on the body as smoking 15 cigarettes in one day or drinking 6 alcoholic drinks a day. It can have the same impact as lacking physical activity or being obese. The discussion comes in anticipation of Dr. Gunderman’s book on loneliness which is coming next year. 

ISMA President Richard Gunderman, MD, discusses the impact of loneliness in society, noting that the loneliest demographic is 19 to 24 year olds.