MEDIA ADVISORY - How Can Painted Rocks, Skateboards and Spinning Counter Canada's Loneliness Epidemic? The GenWell Project Has The Answer This Weekend

TORONTO and MONTREAL, Sept. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - Is there a 'loneliness epidemic' in Canada? Some experts believe there is, and many others feel that if loneliness has not yet reached an 'epidemic' level, we are fast approaching it. With the increasing pace of the world around us and the growing distractions within it, coupled with more Canadians living alone than ever before (28.2 per cent) and the 2016 census showing 32 per cent of Canadians feel a weak or very weak sense of belonging to their community, the problems of loneliness and social isolation are very real.

This weekend, The GenWell Project (formerly The Generator Project) is serving as a catalyst to get people to make plans to get together and strengthen those important face to face social connections, and pushback on those factors that are feeding the epidemic of loneliness. This weekend is the GenWell Weekend and connections will be made!

Since 2016, The GenWell Project has endeavoured to remind people of the importance of face to face social connection through its twice-annual GenWell Weekends. On these weekends, people are encouraged to connect with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues by registering to host an event, which can be as small as coffee with a friend all the way up to a street-long party. With research showing that isolation is a growing issue affecting all of us ? it is now more important than ever to forge and strengthen those personal connections. The benefits of face to face social connections to your mental and physical health and well-being are numerous; it reduces anxiety and depression, it strengthens the immune system and increases your chances of living longer by 50%. Overall, it is one of the single largest indicators of happiness in your life.

Media are invited to see firsthand how people are connecting and having fun as part of
The GenWell Weekend: 

In addition to the above listed events, hundreds of people from Abbotsford to Monte Lake and Edinburgh to Kyoto have registered to host their own events, ranging from four to 200 people. Some of the events registered so far include:                                                                                               

Media interested in covering an event are asked to contact us and we will work to coordinate with the host.

About The GenWell Project.

The GenWell Project (formerly The Generator Project) is a movement that was inspired by the summer Blackout of 2003 on the Eastern seaboard of Canada and the United States. With no ability to connect with people through technology and with most businesses on hold, people connected. Face-to-face.  With their friends, with their family and with their neighbours. The GenWell Project is about reminding people about the importance of those connections and inspiring them to take action and create healthy connection habits ongoing. Join the movement, bring your community together, become a Generator. www.GenWellProject.org.

SOURCE The GenWell Project