As Utah ranks above the national average by U.S. Census Bureau on loneliness, BYU’s Social Connection & Health Lab recommended increased social connection to combat negative health effects from loneliness.
In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. In the advisory, Murthy called attention to a new epidemic affecting Americans: an epidemic of loneliness.
“Loneliness and isolation represent profound threats to our health and well-being,” Murthy said. “But we have the power to respond. We can rise to meet this moment together.”…