Surgeon General addresses loneliness epidemic in US and offers solutions.

The US Surgeon General has released a report warning that loneliness and social isolation are as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and are a serious threat to physical and mental health that demands urgent policy action. The report outlines the measures of social isolation and loneliness in the US, how they can affect people’s health, and introduces recommendations about how to alleviate this epidemic of loneliness. The report recommends six pillars for making Americans feel more connected and less isolated from one another, including strengthening the social infrastructure, developing pro-connection public policies, mobilizing the health sector, reforming digital environments, deepening knowledge, and cultivating a culture of connection.