Surgeon General addresses loneliness epidemic and proposes solutions.

The U.S. Surgeon General has declared loneliness a new public health epidemic in America, linking it to profound effects on mental health, heart disease, stroke, and dementia. The report tracks a decline in social connections and links it to billions of dollars in healthcare costs. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy discusses the risks and suggests taking individual steps to make a difference, such as spending 15 minutes a day with people we care about, being fully present when interacting with others, and looking for ways to help others. The report also recommends policymakers fund more research, extend support to community organizations, and take a connection-in-all-policies approach to policymaking.