The “nation’s doctor” is on a campaign to combat what he calls an epidemic of loneliness and isolation taking its toll on roughly half the people in the United States. His call to action to “mend the social fabric of our nation” deserves broad support, from government, professionals and institutions — and from each of us.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, whose job is to give Americans the best scientific information about improving health and reducing the risk of illness, started warning about the dangers of loneliness before COVID hit. Now, he says, the crisis is more urgent.
Americans are used to surgeon generals using their bully pulpit to lead the fight against such scourges as smoking, drug addiction and obesity. One of Murthy’s goals is to convince us that loneliness is also a serious threat to physical health and can even cause premature death. Research tells us that loneliness can cause or worsen cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression and anxiety. The effect of loneliness on a person can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It can be worse than obesity and lack of exercise.
That’s not to downplay the devastating effects of loneliness on emotional and mental health. Murthy makes the case that the prevalent American attitude toward people’s mental or psychological state makes things worse. Too often, such problems are dismissed as a choice or personal flaw. There’s still a stigma attached to seeking help for mental-health problems.
Getting the word out about how widespread and real such problems are, and what serious effects they can have, is an essential part of bringing the epidemic under control.
Why is loneliness such a growing problem? People most likely to struggle with loneliness and isolation are having financial problems, in poor health or living alone. Yet, even though more older people live alone and are somewhat isolated, young adults are more likely to say they feel lonely.
Our technology, the internet and especially social media are major factors. Social media, if used wisely, can help people stay connected to family and friends. Too often, though, the interactions on social media take the place of or interfere with face-to-face relationships. Social media can also make people feel they don’t measure up to what may seem like the perfect lives of others, and it is used to bully people.
Social and other media also contribute and worsen the deep divisions in our society, making people feel more alone and even in fear of people of a different race or ethnicity, or with different sexual orientation or political beliefs.
Before the pandemic, Murthy focused on the workplace, where people spent much of their time and had the bulk of their interactions with others. He called on employers to give workers enough time off to nurture personal lives, and to encourage coworkers to know one another better.
During COVID, new problems developed as many people worked from home. Now, as more employees are being brought back into the office, is an ideal time for reforms.
Murthy’s advisory this spring calls on everyone — families, schools, workplaces, health-care systems, technology companies, governments, churches, communities and each of us — to join in. We need, once and for all, to make it clear that loneliness is a serious problem, that mental health is a part of overall health, and that combating loneliness will require major changes in the ways we think and do things.
Governments should provide funds for research and for developing effective strategies. Planners can develop parks and walkways that make it easier for neighbors to interact. Health-care workers and insurers can do more to screen for loneliness and encourage programs that help people build relationships. Schools, churches and other organizations have a role.
And so do individuals. Each of us should make more effort to put down that phone or walk away from that computer and spend time talking with and listening to friends, family and new acquaintances. The problem is serious, and the need is urgent.
