- The coronavirus pandemic has put the US in a social recession.
- Social distancing can spur a state of loneliness - especially for those already struggling with mental health, as many millennials are.
- From virtual beer pong and Zoom dinner dates to "Netflix Party," here are the best ways to stay connected.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The coronavirus pandemic hasn't just sent the US on the path to an economic recession. It's also led the country into a "social recession."
With social distancing enforced and the need for everyone to stay inside to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, it's easy to feel lonelier than ever, causing a possible loneliness epidemic, reported Ezra Klein for Vox.
"Social contact and being together in public spaces, whether it's at the grocery store or a civic space like a park, are all elements that contribute to our collective sense of well-being," Priya Parker, author of "The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, told Vox's Rebecca Jennings. "When we aren't able to at least traditionally physically gather in all types of ways, not only celebratory ways, but in our schools, in our places of worship, in our neighborhood associations, it's a collective stress to our well-being."
It can be especially difficult for those who are already dealing with mental health issues, wrote Klein. That's the case for many millennials; depression and "deaths of despair" were already on the rise among millennials before the pandemic as they grapple with loneliness, money stress, and burnout in the workplace.
But just because we can't physically be with each other doesn't mean we can't emotionally or mentally be together. It's all about staying connected - which is pretty easy, thanks to technology.
Here are nine ways you can put the social in social distancing.
