While the general belief is that the elderly are more inclined to experience loneliness and isolation, recent university studies have concluded that teens actually are more likely to experience this. One major cause is pervasive overuse of social media. “Social media can lead to feelings of negative comparison, inadequacy, and exclusion for teens,” says retired psychiatrist and author Dr. Shila Patel. “The resulting feelings of isolation can result in a host of physical and mental health issues, ranging from weakened immune function to acute depression, as well as thoughts of suicide.” Shila is a retired psychiatrist who spent her career focused on women’s and children’s issues, and the author of the three-book series “US Unhinged 1 and 2 and US Fractured.” Contact: Dr. Shila Patel at (229) 586-6190; spatel@rtirguests.com