The COVID-19 pandemic forced people to live their lives differently from any way they had previously. Social Isolation became the norm. Human touch and interaction became foreign concepts. Even with the decline of the pandemic, some still fear leaving the presumed safety of their homes. All this has taken a toll on our mental and physical health. Isolation and loneliness increase the risk of the development of mental health issues. We can see from the numbers that mental health diagnoses are rising. There are unprecedented increases in the percentages of those suffering from anxiety, depression, and other related disorders.1 Along with an increase in mental diagnoses, there has been a concomitant increase in suicide rates among young people ages -242. We are just now seeing the impact of being alone. This alarming data has led Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to declare a public health advisory on the loneliness crisis.
3 We were never designed to be alone: “and the Lord God said It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him” Genesis 2:18. “Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight – one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connections like we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders. Together, we can build a healthier, more resilient, less lonely, and more connected country.”3
Dr. Murthy laid out a strategy based on six foundational pillars: This Surgeon General’s Advisory lays out a framework for the United States to establish a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection based on six foundational pillars:
- Strengthen Social Infrastructure: Connections are influenced not just by individual interactions but also by the physical elements of a community (parks, libraries, playgrounds) and the programs and policies in place. To strengthen social infrastructure, communities must design environments that promote connection, establish and scale community connection programs, and invest in institutions that unite people.
- Enact Pro-Connection Public Policies: National, state, local, and tribal governments play a role in establishing policies like accessible public transportation or paid family leave to support and enable more connection among a community or a family.
- Mobilize the Health Sector: Because loneliness and isolation are risk factors for several primary health conditions (including heart disease, dementia, and depression) and premature death, healthcare providers are well-positioned to assess patients for risk of loneliness and intervene.
- Reform Digital Environments: We must critically evaluate our relationship with technology and ensure that how we interact digitally does not detract from meaningful and healing connections with others.
- Deepen Our Knowledge: A more robust research agenda, beyond the evidence outlined in the advisory, must be established to further our understanding of the causes and consequences of social disconnection, populations at risk, and the effectiveness of efforts to boost connection.
- Cultivate a Culture of Connection: The informal practices of everyday life (the norms and culture of how we engage one another) significantly influence the relationships we have in our lives. We cannot be successful in the other pillars without a culture of connection.
What can we do as individuals? Reach out and connect to family, friends, and church members. Invite someone to take a walk or have a cup of coffee. Make that in-person social connection. It will do a world of good for you.
