The Loneliness Epidemic and US Military Veterans

As America confronts what the U.S. Surgeon General has described as a national epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, a truth emerges that affects some of our nation’s most dedicated citizens: military veterans often bear the heaviest burden of isolation. While loneliness is widespread across the general population (about half of U.S. adults reporting significant feelings of social disconnection in recent years), it takes on unique dimensions for those who have served in uniform.

I alluded to this feeling of loneliness and separation in an article I wrote many years ago, titled “Yale University and the Loneliness of the Military Professional.” The loneliness epidemic among the veteran community is real.

The Surgeon General Sounds the Alarm

In December 2025, a Fox News opinion piece recounted how U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared loneliness and isolation a public health epidemic, linking these states to serious health risks such as increased premature death and diminished mental health. The piece highlighted that the solution doesn’t come from a doctor alone, but from everyday acts of connection in homes, communities, and shared spaces.

Murthy and the Department of Health and Human Services have stressed that loneliness is more than sadness or solitude—it is a disconnection from meaningful relationships that harms both individual and societal health.

Military Service, Transition, and Loneliness

For many veterans, military life forges deeply bonded relationships rooted in shared adversity, trust, and purpose. When service ends, those bonds can abruptly fragment. Veterans often struggle with the loss of daily camaraderie, structured roles, and tight-knit units—factors that once defined their lives and sense of identity. Research shows that losing touch with service comrades, difficulty relating to civilians, and physical or mental health challenges all contribute to veterans’ feelings of social isolation.

One national survey indicated that over half of U.S. veterans reported feeling lonely some or most of the time, and veterans who frequently experienced loneliness had significantly higher odds of suicidal ideation and attempts compared to those who rarely felt lonely. This isn’t just data—it’s a signal that loneliness for veterans can become a life-threatening condition when left unaddressed.

A Hidden Public Health Problem

Just as Dr. Murthy’s advisory framed loneliness as comparable to well-known health threats like smoking and obesity, the evidence suggests that loneliness among veterans is not just emotional, it is physiological. Persistent loneliness correlates with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide risk, and can exacerbate conditions such as PTSD and physical disability.

Veterans may even feel lonely while surrounded by others. Loneliness is a subjective state: one can be in a crowd yet feel invisible, unsupported, or misunderstood—especially after transitioning away from the shared purpose and rituals of military service.

Combatting the Epidemic: Community and Connection

Efforts to address loneliness among veterans are emerging at both grassroots and institutional levels. The Department of Veterans Affairs supports Veterans Socials, community-based peer gatherings designed to build friendships outside clinical settings. Programs like the Veteran Buddy Link, where veterans call one another regularly for companionship and support, are helping bridge the gap between isolation and connectivity.

Nonprofit organizations such as Team Red, White & Blue also work to foster social connection through group activities, physical fitness, and shared missions that echo the camaraderie veterans miss after service. These community-centered approaches reflect the core insight of the Surgeon General’s guidance: that healing from loneliness comes not from prescribing pills, but from strengthening relationships and shared experiences.

A Call to Action

Veterans have given so much in service to this nation. Yet too many return to civilian life and find themselves adrift without meaningful connection. Addressing the loneliness epidemic among veterans requires collective effort—from family and friends to community groups, service organizations, and policymakers. It requires spaces where veterans feel seen, heard, and understood; where relationships can be rebuilt; and where a veteran’s service continues to be honored not just in memory, but in ongoing human connection.

Combat doesn’t end with discharge papers. For many veterans, the battle to stay connected is a quiet fight at home—one we must help them win.

_____________________________

Charles served over 27 years in the US Army, which included seven combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with various Special Operations Forces units and two stints as an instructor at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He also completed operational tours in Egypt, the Philippines, and the Republic of Korea and earned a Doctor of Business Administration from Temple University as well as a Master of Arts in International Relations from Yale University. He is the owner of The Havok Journal, and the views expressed herein are his own and do not reflect those of the US Government or any other person or entity.

As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.