Post by Vanderbilt University Medical Center

A new Vanderbilt Health study sheds light on the life-saving power of human connection. For decades, therapy and medication have been the primary ways to treat depression and anxiety, though access to such treatment can be out of reach for many. But by focusing on reducing loneliness, we can “buffer” some of the impacts that depression and anxiety have on suicidal thoughts — even when professional mental health care is limited, according to Katherine Musacchio Schafer, PhD, MS, MEd, a Vanderbilt Health clinical psychologist and first author on the study’s paper. The study of 633,000 participants, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that building connections with your community can have a profound impact on your risk and resilience. Learn more about the survey in our story: https://bit.ly/3O0Zhkh