US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy introduced a new framework to tackle loneliness in the US this week, writing in a new op-ed that social connections must be “a top public health priority” in the country. I’m here.
“As decades have built, the epidemic of loneliness and isolation has fueled other problems that threaten to kill us and tear our country apart,” Murthy wrote. New York Times editorial.
Murthy writes that about one in two Americans experience loneliness all the time, noting that social isolation can increase the risk of anxiety and depression. increase. In addition to mental health issues, loneliness may increase the risk of heart disease, dementia and stroke, and the risk of premature death from loneliness is comparable to that of daily smoking.
“Given these staggering costs, rebuilding social ties must be a top public health priority for our country,” he wrote. “We need to reorient ourselves, our communities, and our institutions to prioritize human connection and healthy relationships. It is that
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the loneliness epidemic as people closed their homes and many switched to remote work during the pandemic.A study published last year found that loneliness gain The pandemic has resulted in a 5% rise in loneliness rates globally.
Mercy, who served as Surgeon General under former President Obama, outlined a three-step framework for dealing with loneliness in his op-ed, and said that social infrastructure should be improved, such as expanding school programs and promoting healthy workplace practices. He also wrote that Americans must rethink their relationship with technology and focus on rebuilding their connections with each other to rectify loneliness.
The public health director also described his own struggles with experiencing loneliness and said he relied on his family to help him get through it.
“When I was at my lowest point, people patched me up with acts of love and connection. I put more effort into building and maintaining my relationships,” Murthy wrote. “I’m a better father, husband, friend, and surgeon as a result.”
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