Making friends as an adult can be hard. Here’s how some Madisonians do it

Strong social connectedness is a “protective factor” against depression and promotes stress resilience, said Shilagh Mirgain, UW Health distinguished psychologist. That makes it almost imperative to make friends, she said. She also said the health impacts of loneliness are as bad as smoking a dozen cigarettes a day. Friends help the immune system function more effectively and encourage a stable mood.