Wellbeing is the Issue of Our Time

In a conversation with Karen Guggenheim, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy emphasized the importance of advocating for social connection due to the prevalence and impact of loneliness on health.
He shared that, one in two adults in the US and the UK are struggling with loneliness, and the rates are even higher in children. Loneliness has been associated with a higher risk of anxiety, depression, suicide, and a 25% increase in heart disease.
The link between loneliness and mortality is comparable to smoking. Clearly loneliness is a profound societal challenge and foundational issue. To increase healthy social connections, Dr. Murthy suggested taking 15 minutes out of the day to reach out to loved ones, giving full attention to people in conversations, and looking for opportunities to help others.
In his words, “love is the most treasured resource that we also most undervalue.” He emphasized the importance of setting a positive example for children and reshaping cultural narratives around success to prioritize kindness and contribution to others.
He advocated for the inclusion of social-emotional learning in schools to support healthier connections. The conversation concluded with a call to action to prioritize wellbeing and social connection at all levels - personal, policy, and programmatic.