It's time for the U.S. to prioritize Americans' social connections and address the health implications of loneliness, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, wrote in an April 30 opinion piece for The New York Times.
Why? Because loneliness and isolation is "more than just a bad feeling" — it has "grave consequences for our mental health, physical health and collective well-being," he wrote. About 1 out of every 2 people in the U.S. experience measurable levels of loneliness at any given time, and research shows this social disconnection increases the risk of anxiety and depression, heart disease, dementia and stroke.
As a result, Dr. Murthy is proposing a national framework to "rebuild social connection and community" across the country. This involves strengthening social infrastructure, rethinking relationships with technology and encouraging people to take steps to prioritize connection in their own lives.
"This work will take all of us: schools, workplaces, community organizations, government, health workers, public health professionals, individuals, families and more working together. And it will be worth it because our need for human connection is like our need for food and water: essential for our survival," Dr. Murthy wrote.
Read the full op-ed here.