Loneliness is not a diagnosis, but for some people it can be a signal that something else is going on. Depression, anxiety, and ADHD are common examples. Loneliness looks different for everyone. For some, it’s feeling empty even around others. For others, it’s the exhaustion of social situations, or the sense that no one quite understands.
About half of U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness.¹ The Mentavi Mental Health Diagnostic Evaluation includes a validated loneliness screener, so a psychologist can look at what may be contributing.
For some people, loneliness lasts and goes beyond ordinary solitude. These are patterns worth noticing:
If several of these sound familiar and have been present for weeks or longer, an evaluation can help clarify what may be driving them.
Loneliness that doesn’t ease with time or company often has more than one cause: biological, psychological, and social. That’s part of why it looks different for everyone.
Genes can play a role. Research suggests loneliness can run in families.² Chronic loneliness is also linked to staying on high alert for social threat.³
Life experiences matter too. Hard early experiences, repeated social difficulty, and long-term mental health concerns can all make withdrawal more likely.
Loneliness is not a character flaw or a failure to try harder.
Several conditions can be linked to persistent loneliness, and more than one can be present at once. Depression and anxiety, for example, can occur together.
Depression can make it harder to reach out or feel interested in connection. Many people want support but feel too tired or numb to ask for it.
Anxiety can make social situations feel overwhelming because of fear of judgment or rejection. Many people want connection, but looking ahead to social plans can feel exhausting.
ADHD can make it hard to follow up, keep plans, or stay consistent in friendships. Others may misread this as not caring, which can build distance over time.
OCD, insomnia, and other conditions can also affect social life and add to isolation.
The Mentavi Mental Health Diagnostic Evaluation looks at several conditions at once, so a psychologist can review them together.
The Mentavi Mental Health Diagnostic Evaluation assesses a broad range of common mental health conditions, including the conditions that most commonly contribute to persistent loneliness and social disconnection. It incorporates the UCLA Loneliness Scale, a validated screener, as part of a comprehensive clinical picture. The Diagnostic Evaluation is clinically validated† for the diagnosis of ADHD in adults, with peer-reviewed research published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, and provides the broader mental health context clinicians use during clinical review.
A doctorate-level, licensed psychologist reviews your evaluation to determine applicable diagnoses and recommend next steps.
The evaluation you complete goes directly to a doctorate-level, licensed psychologist, a real clinician, not an automated score. They review your full clinical picture: your answers, symptom patterns, and any signs that more than one condition may be involved. Based on that review, the psychologist determines which diagnoses, if any, are warranted.
You will receive a clinical report with your results, any warranted diagnoses, and recommendations for next steps. If treatment is clinically appropriate, those recommendations will outline the options available based on your diagnosis and your state.
The right approach depends on which condition or conditions are present and what your clinical picture looks like after evaluation. There is no single treatment path that works for everyone.
Mentavi treatment options include medical treatment and therapy, each available when clinically appropriate based on your diagnosis. All treatment services require a completed Diagnostic Evaluation, are available to adults 18 and older, and vary by state and clinician capacity.
Work with a licensed clinician on a treatment plan based on your diagnosis and individual circumstances. Medication may be included when clinically appropriate and is available in more than 40 states.§
For depression or anxiety, clinicians may consider antidepressants such as SSRIs or SNRIs. For ADHD, stimulant or non-stimulant options may be considered depending on your health history and clinical presentation.5 Your clinician will determine what, if anything, is appropriate for you.
Evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), are available in 40+ states.§
CBT can help address the thoughts, behaviors, and emotional patterns that contribute to depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal. For social anxiety, exposure-based approaches may help reduce the fear and avoidance that make social situations feel overwhelming. Therapy may be used on its own or alongside medication, depending on your diagnosis and needs.
Skills-focused coaching to help you build strategies, set goals, and manage anxiety day to day, available nationwide.§
Yes. At Mentavi Health, you can complete a comprehensive evaluation entirely online, on your own schedule, with no office visit required. A doctorate-level, licensed psychologist reviews your results and may diagnose applicable conditions when clinically appropriate.
If treatment is warranted following your evaluation, medical treatment and therapy are available through Mentavi Health online. Availability varies by state. Use the availability tool on our site to check what’s offered where you are.
Online care isn’t right for every situation. If you’re in crisis or experiencing thoughts of self-harm, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
