“Millions of Americans fight in the shadows”: Loneliness has been declared a public health epidemic in the United States, where it increasingly causes depression, in many cases leading to death.
Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general of the United States, raised the alarm, declaring the loneliness of a new public health epidemic.
Murthy said that loneliness can be as dangerous as smoking and can increase the risk of premature death by 30%.
“Lack of personal connection increases the risk of premature death by more than 60%,” Murthy said. “In simple terms, social isolation increases the risk of premature death to the same level as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.”
In an 81-page report, Murthy said about half of American adults experience the condition, and data shows that single-person households have nearly doubled in the past 60 years.
The Covid 19 pandemic has also weighed heavily recently, forcing millions of Americans to isolate themselves, keeping them away from family and friends alike.
“We know loneliness is a common feeling for many people. It’s like hunger or thirst. It’s a feeling that the body sends us when something we need to survive is missing,” said the surgeon general. “That’s when you have to call a friend, or go visit a relative.”
“Millions of Americans are fighting in the shadows,” he added.
“It’s not the right thing to do. That’s why I raised the alarm, to shed light on a problem that too many people are facing.”
The report notes that people are wired for social connection “but we have become more isolated … loneliness is more widespread than any other major health problem in the United States and is a major public health concern.”
“Some people become introverted, others irritable and angry,” Murthy said. “The time to worry is when you begin to experience a feeling of loneliness for long periods of time.”
