We must move away from the disease model, which assumes that emotional distress is merely symptomatic of biological illness, and instead embrace a model of mental health and well-being that [...]

Loneliness is a health risk,  but having empathic listeners is good for you.  Read the article here http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/op-talk/2014/07/29/how-loneliness-can-make-you-sick-and-might-even-kill-you/