When I went through my confirmation hearing to serve as surgeon general they asked me what my priorities would be and I didn't list loneliness in that priority list because it was not one at the time.
Interpretation
Loneliness is often overlooked in priority lists, yet it significantly impacts public health.
Vivek Murthy reflects on his confirmation hearing for surgeon general, revealing that he did not initially consider loneliness a priority concern, despite its profound effects on health. This oversight highlights the need for a broader perspective on health issues that includes mental and emotional well-being.
In practice
During a public health speech about mental wellness, you might quote this to emphasize the need to address loneliness in healthcare agendas.
I think sometimes in the focus on deep friendships and on romantic relationships, we can lose sight of how important the small connections we make are with strangers and with people that we may encounter for just a few seconds or a few minutes, whether it's the barista at our coffee shop or the stranger next to us on the subway.
Without strong communities, we cannot pull together during times of hardship. Our diversity turns from a source of strength to a source of conflict.
One of the things that happens in our regular lives is that when we're in moments of pain or feeling alone, we may hesitate to reach out to others because we may think - they're not going through the same experiences I am.
There's a tremendous sense of shame that people who are lonely feel. I say that as someone who felt ashamed of being lonely as a child and even at points during adulthood.
Our health care workers are the heroes of the Covid-19 response.
What you quickly realize once you commit to getting more sleep is it can increase your productivity, it can improve your mood. And that doesn't just help you at work, but it helps you be the kind of person you want to be with your family and your friends and that's ultimately what matters most.
In order to really give mental health the focus and attention it deserves, we need to bring together and integrate all the services that provide women with the care they need. This includes the mental and physical health services, as well as social care.
The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not.
The steep price tag of cancer treatment needs to continue to be a part of the national conversation, not just the patient-doctor one.
Taking care of your body, no matter what your age, is an investment.
You can't have public health without a public health system. We just don't want to be part of a mindless competition for resources. We want to build back capacity in the system.
In 10 sessions you'll feel the difference, in 20 you'll see the difference, and in 30 you'll have a new body
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