The Connection Gap: How Stories Heal Children and Communities

Loneliness is not just an individual struggle — it’s a global health challenge. According to the World Health Organization, one in six people worldwide experience loneliness, with devastating effects on mental and physical health, quality of life, and even longevity. Children and the elderly are among the most vulnerable, yet disconnection impacts people of all ages.

In this episode, Kim Kleidon speaks with Lateefat Odunuga — Story Psychologist, Global Advisor for the African Network of Youth Policy Excellence, and author of more than ten children’s books. Drawing on her work in mental health and storytelling, Lateefat explores how stories can bridge the connection gap for children, and why policy and culture must work together to create a more connected, healthier world.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How storytelling can help children feel seen, heard, and understood
• The power of policy in driving social connection worldwide
• Lateefat’s journey from mental health work to writing children’s books as tools for belonging

This conversation is both inspiring and practical — a reminder that human connection is a powerful medicine we all need, and that simple actions, like sharing a story, can transform loneliness into belonging.

If this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend — because connection starts with one call, one story, one person at a time.

Follow Lateefat on LinkedIn