An Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation

Surgeon General warns of nationwide health impacts in latest advisory

This past month, the U.S. Surgeon General released a new advisory to the public, entitled “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” In the 80-page document, Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA, detailed the many ways that increased levels of loneliness and isolation have been and will continue to negatively affect both individual and community health, unless steps are taken to remedy the problem.

Murthy admits being surprised by the findings. But for Terry Cassidy, executive director of Behavioral Health Services at Sarasota Memorial, the report only confirms what behavioral health professionals have already been seeing. “It truly makes sense,” she says. “Loneliness and isolation were already ramping up and then the pandemic exacerbated the situation. It was the perfect storm.”

Negative Effects of Loneliness & Isolation

“Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling,” the surgeon general says in the report. “It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity.”

And the collective impact, according to the report, can extend to the entire community.

“Social isolation among older adults alone accounts for an estimated $6.7 billion in excess Medicare spending annually, largely due to increased hospital and nursing facility spending,” the advisory says. “And the harmful consequences of a society that lacks social connection can be felt in our schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished.”

Loneliness & Isolation In Sarasota

“We’ve seen it on all levels,” says Cassidy. “And certainly a lot with children. Even though they’re back in school, they aren’t feeling very connected to their peers.”

Social isolation and feelings of anxiety and loneliness have been consistently observed—and during what Cassidy calls a crucial stage of adolescence, when children are supposed to be finding their peer group and figuring out who they are and how they fit in to the greater community. The result is not only increased isolation and loneliness, but a resulting lack of coping skills, an increase in emotional deregulation and then, creating a vicious cycle, a lack of ability to connect with others. “And then we see suicide ideation going up with young people,” she says.

But this is not just an epidemic affecting the youth.

“We’re certainly seeing it with adults and seniors,” Cassidy says. “Even though the pandemic is something we’ve learned to live with and the risk has been somewhat mitigated through vaccination and immunity, there are still many who are afraid to go out, especially those with medical limitations.”

And for many, the communities and social structures that existed pre-pandemic have never been restored.

What Can We Do?

The answer is simple but not necessarily easy: build connections.

“Anything you can do to connect with others,” says Cassidy. “Take baby steps, if you have to.” Whether it’s a matter of going for a walk and waving to the neighbor or reconnecting with an old friend of family member, the important thing is to try. “Give yourself a goal, to try maybe once a week,” she says. “Then slowly increase to 2-3 three times a week and so on.”

It’s equally important to set reasonable goals for you. A lot of people think they have to jump straight to volunteering, but that’s not the case. “Sometimes that’s too much to start with,” says Cassidy, “when just picking up the phone and making a 15-minute phone call to someone you care about would make a big difference.” And you never know if the person at the other end of the line needed to hear a friendly voice even more than you did.

Whatever you decide, set goals that work for you, not someone else.

Another important factor to consider these days is how technology plays a role in our social connections, or lack thereof. On one hand, there’s no doubt that technology allows us to connect with others like never before, but it’s also true that technology allows us to easily slip into our own little worlds and forgo genuine human connection. Cassidy has a couple tips:

• Call Sometimes – Texting is convenient and useful but can also be alienating. Make it a phone call (or maybe even a video call!) and allow yourself to hear the other person’s voice and be heard yourself.
• Watch Your Binging – Binge-watching is how television is consumed in the days of streaming, but it can seriously drain your social time. Be sure to limit how much time you devote to the TV.

Resources

If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties with loneliness and isolation, there are many resources available right here in the community.

Through Behavioral Health Services at Sarasota Memorial, certified healthcare professionals are available 24/7 for urgent consults and by appointment during normal business hours. For a free clinical assessment, call 941-917-7760.

If you are in an emergency or crisis, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8, to speak with a trained counselor.

To read the surgeon general’s advisory, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation”, click here.

Written by Sarasota Memorial copywriter Philip Lederer, MA, who crafts a variety of external communications for the healthcare system. SMH’s in-house wordsmith, Lederer earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration and Political Philosophy from Morehead State University, KY, and really should call his parents more often.