Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community
On behalf of the Foundation, the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness, our membership, scientific council, and partners, we stand together with the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in calling on government officials to invest in pro-social connection policies and to mend the social fabric of our nation.
In a new Surgeon General’s Advisory released today, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warns about the public health crisis that loneliness, isolation, and disconnection pose to the American public. Loneliness and isolation are widespread, with approximately half of U.S. adults experiencing loneliness. Disconnection fundamentally affects our mental, physical, and societal health.
Strengthening the social connectedness of our communities is essential in order to improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities and must be a national priority. Addressing loneliness is as vital to protecting our health as addressing obesity, tobacco, or addiction. The Surgeon General’s Advisory lays out a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection. It includes six pillars detailing recommendations that individuals, governments, workplaces, health systems, and community organizations can take to increase connection in their lives, communities, and across the nation.
We would like to acknowledge and thank Foundation for Social Connection Scientific Chair, Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, who served as Lead Scientific Editor of the Advisory, and to our Scientific Council members and staff who contributed as Advisory reviewers for the Office of the Surgeon General.
We encourage you to read the advisory today, to share with colleagues and friends, and to learn how you can Connect 2 Heal in your own community!
Join us as we commit to action towards a more socially connected future for all and follow along with the campaign Hashtag: #Connect2Heal!