Enfield starts a campaign to tackle an emerging 'loneliness epidemic'

ENFIELD, Conn. — In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General's office declared loneliness as a public health crisis.

Now, the town of Enfield has launched the first municipal-level anti-loneliness campaign in the state.

It's called Enfield Connects, and the goal is counteract a national concern for the mental and physical toll loneliness can take on a body, by making it easier for people to get involved in their community, which can decrease social isolation.

A lack of social connections has been linked to strokes, depression and even premature death.

The hope is to create more "third spaces" in town, which are places outside of one's job and house where they can connect with other people.

"Everybody had to be alone when COVID happened, and then they only came back, you know, part time in