Thanks for writing this Jude.

Respectful disagreement with your thesis, namely, "There is no 'male loneliness epidemic'":

Young men are afflicted by particular disparities on multiple fronts: they are v, not dating nor marrying nor wanting kids, not seeking higher education, isolated, depressed, often bullied, facing (and less likely to disclose) childhood trauma, coming from “dad void” troubled families, falling behind girls and women in academic achievement and attainment, 2x more likely to overdose, 3.5x more likely to (and make up 80% of those who successfully) commit suicide, over 9x more likely to be incarcerated.

Young men have higher rates of alcoholism, homelessness, poverty, obesity, substance abuse, and lower life expectancy. Young men comprise the majority of violent crime perpetrators and victims. Finally, young men commit over 98% of mass shootings.

These many statistics and data points aren’t cherry-picked, they’re clinical.

Writing as a mental health advocate and suicide prevention activist.

For what it's worth, September is National Suicide Prevention Month.

Young men especially need more empathy, particularly when they are targeted by charlatans, snake oil salesmen, and grifters, all of whom prey upon their social isolation, which is then commercialized, radicalized and weaponized through effective messaging and false sense of community (see: Andrew Tate’s War Room, incel-bro MRA influencers/streamers, etc.)