Dr. Vivek H. Murthy is the surgeon general of the United States. As “the nation’s doctor,” it is his job to protect and improve the health and safety of the American people.
In his recent Opinion essay “We Have Become a Lonely Nation. It’s Time to Fix That,” Dr. Murthy writes about how social isolation and loneliness are critical health issues facing Americans. To address these issues, he is proposing a national framework to rebuild social connection and community in America.
Does it surprise you that the country’s top doctor sees loneliness as a health issue? Do you see it as an urgent problem that needs to be addressed?
Dr. Murthy writes:
A patient of mine once shared with me a most unusual story. He had worked for years in the food industry with a modest salary and humble lifestyle. Then he won the lottery. Overnight, his life changed. He quit his job and moved into a large house in a gated community.
Yet as he sat across from me, he sadly declared, “Winning the lottery was one of the worst things that ever happened to me.” Wealthy but alone, this once vivacious, social man no longer knew his neighbors and had lost touch with his former co-workers. He soon developed high blood pressure and diabetes.
I thought about his story in 2017 when I found myself struggling with loneliness. My first stint as surgeon general had just ended. I was suddenly disconnected from the colleagues with whom I had spent most of my waking hours. It might not have been so bad had I not made a critical mistake: I had largely neglected my friendships during my tenure, convincing myself that I had to focus on work and I couldn’t do both.
Even when I was physically with the people I loved, I wasn’t present — I was often checking the news and responding to messages in my inbox. After my job ended, I felt ashamed to reach out to friends I had ignored. I found myself increasingly lonely and isolated, and it felt as if I was the only one who felt that way. Loneliness — like depression, with which it can be associated — can chip away at your self-esteem and erode your sense of who you are. That’s what happened to me.
At any moment, about one out of every two Americans is experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. This includes introverts and extroverts, rich and poor, and younger and older Americans. Sometimes loneliness is set off by the loss of a loved one or a job, a move to a new city, or health or financial difficulties — or a once-in-a-century pandemic.
Other times, it’s hard to know how it arose but it’s simply there. One thing is clear: Nearly everyone experiences it at some point. But its invisibility is part of what makes it so insidious. We need to acknowledge the loneliness and isolation that millions are experiencing and the grave consequences for our mental health, physical health and collective well-being.
Dr. Murthy’s proposed framework includes the following recommendations:
First, we must strengthen social infrastructure — the programs, policies, and structures that aid the development of healthy relationships.
Second, we have to renegotiate our relationship with technology, creating space in our lives without our devices so we can be more present with one another.
Finally, we have to take steps in our personal lives to rebuild our connection to one another — and small steps can make a big difference.
Students, read the entire essay and then tell us:
In his essay, Dr. Murthy describes his own struggle with loneliness. Have you ever struggled with loneliness? If so, when did you realize you were lonely? What do you think might have contributed to or caused it?
Do you agree with Dr. Murthy’s assertion that people tend to not talk about these issues? Do you ever find it difficult to talk about feeling lonely or disconnected?
Did any information in the essay surprise you? What idea or statistic stands out the most? For example, before reading the essay, were you aware of the health risks associated with social isolation? Would you have guessed that about one in two people are feeling lonely at any given time?
What do you think about Dr. Murthy’s suggestions for alleviating loneliness? Which, if any, do you think have the potential to be the most effective for the country as a whole? Which might help you?
If you were asked for your recommendations for how to help with this problem, what would you suggest? What helps you through moments when you feel disconnected from other people?
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.
