US Surgeon General Warns of 'Epidemic of Loneliness' in America

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Sep 28, 2024 at 5:00 AM EDT


The U.S. is battling an "epidemic of loneliness that affects both our emotional well-being and our physical health," the U.S. Surgeon General has warned. Dr. Vivek Murthy, who previously declared loneliness a public health crisis, has spoken out about "growing isolation" and "the stigma attached to loneliness."

He told Newsweek: "Loneliness is not merely the absence of company; it's a profound, invisible epidemic that affects both our emotional well-being and our physical health. As a society, we must recognize that the strength of our social connections is just as important as diet and exercise. Building meaningful connections is not a luxury — it's a necessity for our survival."

Some 30 percent of adults said they experienced feelings of loneliness at least once a week in the year leading up to early 2024, according to January's Healthy Minds Monthly Poll from the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

Meanwhile, 10 percent of the 2,200 adults questioned between January 10 and 12 by Morning Consult, said they were lonely every day. Loneliness was defined to them as "feeling like you do not have meaningful or close relationships or a sense of belonging."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/us-surgeon-general-loneliness-epidemic-1960451

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Link to Webinar scheduled for Sat. Sept. 28, 2024 starting at 10 am ET -

[bucolic_frolic]

1. But on the plus side, loneliness means no MAGAts!

Surrounded by red goons is not fun.

[jimfields33]

2. I think this is leftover from Covid.

People now are finally beginning to live again. The loneliness will go away once people start doing activities and living life.

[twodogsbarking]

4. Nope. That isn't it.

[jimfields33]

5. I definitely think it is. You stay in the house two years or more and

you’ll be bored and lonely.

[twodogsbarking]

6. Lonely doesn't occur because you are alone. It is more of a mental health challenge.

[jimfields33]

12. Maybe. But a lot of studies will be done on covid

and mental health. It will take a decade to see the results.

[Roc2020]

11. nah. I'm in the

Healthcare industry and this was going on before covid. Covid simply put loneliness on steroids. and it's not getting better.

[PSPS]

15. This was going on long before Covid

[twodogsbarking]

3. I believe this. Mental health is health and should be treated.

[Archae]

7. Even if a person is lonely...

I have my real doubts about that "Yogi and mystic" the SG had a conversation with.

Vance is going to appear with a "minister" who wants to imprison and kill those *HE* disapproves of, namely gays and trans.

I would need to actually know more about this Sadhguru guy.

Sure enough, some of his views are right off the deep end.

(From his Wikipedia entry)

Sadhguru has made a number claims that are inconsistent with scientific consensus.[3][63][2] Although India approved the ratification of the international Minamata Convention on Mercury to ban its usage, Sadhguru advocates for the use of mercury in the context of traditional Indian medicine such as Siddha medicine.[64][65][2][66] He has also repeatedly stated he can solidify mercury at room temperature; a claim refuted by Australian scientist Sumaiya Shaikh.[3]

Sadhguru has been criticized for statements about the negative effects that a lunar eclipse can have on the body's energy.[67][63]

[DV1]

8. True

"Building meaningful connections is not a luxury — it's a necessity for our survival."

Now go tell that to those who want to control the 'connections' for their profit. Examples abound.

[radical noodle]

9. There may be different types of loneliness

depending on the circumstances or age group. Baby boomers retiring and leaving their circle of friends at work, while perhaps also losing a spouse and becoming a widow/widower, their kids grown and moved away, and they feel isolated. As a baby boomer myself, I see this happening to friends and neighbors. Not everyone at this age has the health/ability to get out and do very much which makes things worse.

[70sEraVet]

10. I've noticed that one type of involvement in particular seems to be missing.

Community involvement.
A couple of generations ago, many men belonged to a wide variety of fraternal organizations -- Freemasons, Odd Fellows, Order of Elks, Order of Moose, etc.
Veterans' organizations now struggle for new members to replace the members who are passing away.
People no longer seem to know their neighbors.
There is a real problem of isolation, even for people who have strong family ties.

[radical noodle]

16. You're so right!

When I was younger, our husbands joined many of those things. I knew lots of people in the Elks, the American Legion, the Oddfellows, and Jaycees. We women joined Jayshees and philanthropic sororities. I stopped being active in those things when I started working an hour's drive from home. Two hours each day in the car, plus 40 hours of work, and the additional burdens of home and children didn't leave time for clubs and activities. The world has changed so much in the last 50 years.

[Timeflyer]

13. Makes sense to address this, as part of mental health, which would make the country safer

esp. if young men who are lonely and susceptible to acting out got help before they decided to use gun violence to--what, give their life meaning, take out grievance on innocents.. (I know I'm oversimplifying one aspect of this, but have been reading "Lessons from a Mass Shooter's Mother, by Mark Follman, in July August 2024 Mother Jones magazine.)

[The Wandering Harper]

23. the documentary Healing from Hate is excellent and touches on that

I saw myself to some degree in everyone they interviewed,
largely because loneliness

[BaronChocula]

14. I guess I'm a little different

I LOVE being alone. I'm not comfortable around most people. So many things about other people bug me to no end, particularly lack of self awareness, and behavior that's counter to social functionality. I know I'm a total curmudgeon. I think I get it from my grandmother. She did not suffer fools.

[TBF]

17. I have been introverted since I was a kid -

I just didn't know there was a name for it. I don't mind doing social things, but I definitely need time to re-charge.

I do think we all need some connections, but certainly not forced on us & people need different levels of interaction.

[BaronChocula]

22. I just had a friend tell me about a group of pals he had

At least one person in that group couldn't ever do anything alone. I was astounded.

Life events forced me to have to have a roommate a few years ago. Luckily, it's an old friend so it's someone I'm very comfortable with. prior to that it was me and my dog. That I miss.

[FakeNoose]

18. It started when the R's refused to get Covid vaccinations

PLUS they wouldn't wear masks.

Then we found out how calmer it is to exclude them from everything.

[4catsmom]

19. oh puleeze

this is going to be quoted by J.D. Vance 'childless cat lady' speech later. Fortunately, almost nobody will show up to hear it

[BumRushDaShow]

24. ????

This is part of the U.S. Surgeon General's focus on mental health ever since he was confirmed to the position.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143068658
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143077771
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143298156

Not sure how some fly-by-night RW loon GOP elected official's opinion matters, considering his history of lying and deception.

[Shoonra]

20. Loneliness is toxic

Among the reasons for this epidemic of loneliness are:
A carry-over from four years of Covid isolation;
The ubiquity of smartphones, personal computers, and the like that have people communicating only remotely;
The aging-out of the Baby Boomers, with retirements and the deaths of friends and loved ones, leaving multitudes without familiar companions;
and I could also blame the Sexual Revolution, although that's not recent, but it replaced meaningful relationships with quickie sex hookups.

[Bristlecone]

21. I think social media plays a large role

We are constantly communicating, but no real human connection is made. People also get out and meet others less as a result.
And while working from home has its perks, you don’t interact with others at the office, in person, after work, maybe meet a friend of a friend etc. We live behind screens, and it makes one lonely ultimately.

At least it seems that way to me.