Surgeon General: It’s high time to address the US loneliness issue

This week, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy unveiled an innovative plan to fight loneliness in the US, arguing in a recent op-ed that building relationships needs to be a “top public health priority” in the nation.

“As it has grown for many years, a nationwide crisis of loneliness and separation has contributed to additional issues that are destroying us and threatens to tear the nation apart,” Murthy stated in an opinion post for the New York Times.

Murthy noted that feeling emotionally isolated can raise the possibility of anxiety and sadness and that one out of each 2 Americans experiences loneliness at some point in time. In addition to issues with mental health, the surgeon general stated that isolation can raise the possibility of heart disease, memory loss, and death.

“Strengthening social connections must rank as one of the country’s highest public health priorities, he concluded, given such incredible expenditures. Refocusing ourselves, our societies, and our organizations to promote connections between people and positive connections will be necessary. The good news is that we are aware of how to achieve it.”