Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy calls for action to address public health crisis;
Developing a national strategic framework to promote social connections
Today, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy announced new Surgeon General recommendations calling attention to the public health crises of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection in our nation. Even before the coronavirus pandemic began, about half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. Disconnection has a fundamental impact on our mental, physical, and social health. In fact, loneliness and isolation increase the risk of individuals developing mental health problems in their lives, and a lack of connection can increase the risk of premature death to a level comparable to daily smoking.
of Surgeon General’s recommendations on the prevalence of loneliness and isolation It presents a national strategic framework for promoting social connectedness, which has never been implemented before in the United States. It details recommendations that individuals, governments, workplaces, health systems, and community organizations can take to increase connectivity and improve health in their lives, communities, and countries as a whole.
“Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been underestimated as a public health crisis that harms the health of individuals and society. Our relationships are the source of healing hidden in plain sight. and a source of well-being, helping us live healthier, more fulfilling, and more productive lives.” Said Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General. “Given the significant health impacts of loneliness and isolation, we prioritize building social connections in the same way we prioritize other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders. Together, we can build a nation that is healthier, more resilient, less lonely and more connected.”
The physical health effects of poor or inadequate connectivity include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia in older adults. This includes: Additionally, a lack of social connection increases the risk of premature death by more than 60%.
In addition to our physical health, loneliness and isolation greatly affect mental health issues. Among adults, those who report feeling lonely frequently have more than twice the risk of developing depression as those who rarely or never feel lonely. Loneliness and social isolation in childhood increase the risk of depression and anxiety, both immediately and later in life. Additionally, more than 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 3 adolescents in the United States have a mental illness, and to fully address America’s mental health crisis, loneliness and It is important to deal with isolation.
While the epidemic of loneliness and isolation is rampant and has serious implications for our individual and collective health and well-being, there is a silver bullet hiding in plain sight. It’s a social connection.
Social connections are beneficial to individual health and can also improve community resilience. Evidence shows that increased connectivity reduces the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, dementia, and depression. Communities that are more connected have better outcomes on several measures, including population health, community safety, community resilience in the face of natural disasters, prosperity, and civic engagement.
This Surgeon General’s Recommendation provides a framework for the United States to establish a national strategy to advance social connections based on six fundamental pillars:
- Strengthening social infrastructure: Connectivity is influenced not only by individual interactions but also by the physical elements of the community (parks, libraries, playgrounds) and the programs and policies in place. To strengthen social infrastructure, communities must design environments that foster connection, establish and expand community connection programs, and invest in institutions that bring people together.
- Establish pro-connectivity public policies: country, state, region, And tribal governments play a role in establishing policies such as accessible public transportation and paid family leave that strengthen, support and enable connections between communities and families.
- Mobilize the health sector: Loneliness and isolation are risk factors for several major health conditions (such as heart disease, dementia, and depression) and premature death, so healthcare providers can assess their patients’ risk of loneliness and intervene. are in a favorable position.
- Reforming the digital environment: We need to critically assess our relationship with technology and ensure that the way we interact digitally does not undermine meaningful, healing connections with others.
- Deepen your knowledge: A more robust research agenda beyond the evidence outlined in the recommendations, It must be established to further advance our understanding of the causes and consequences of social disconnection, those at risk, and the effectiveness of efforts to increase connectivity.
- Fostering a culture of connection: The informal practices of daily life—the norms and culture of how we interact with each other—have a profound impact on the relationships in our lives. Without a culture of connection, we cannot succeed in the other pillars either.
A Surgeon General’s recommendation is a public statement that draws the American public’s attention to a serious public health problem and provides recommendations on how to address it. Recommendations are reserved for serious public health challenges that require immediate attention from the American public. As the nation’s physician and the 21st Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Murthy is personally committed to how the nation can emerge from the pandemic stronger than before, including the Surgeon General’s recently announced recommendations. has focused a lot of work, research and public platforms. About the Surgeon General’s Framework for Young People’s Mental Health and Health Care Worker Wellbeing and Workplace Wellbeing.
You can read the full advisory here here. For more information about the Surgeon General, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/priorities.