One-third or more of girls aged 11-15 say they feel addicted to certain social media platforms and over half of teenagers report that it would be hard to give up social media. But when we dont know one another, then we fall prey to the caricatures that people put out about groups that disagree with us., And he said social isolation can reach further, making people less civically engaged in their communities. During the meeting, attended by more than 100 in a packed room at the consortium library at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Murthy heard from caregivers and others who said mental health support in Alaska has improved in some areas. Renee Rafferty, regional director of behavioral health services at Providence Health and Services in Alaska, said in the last 18 months the hospital has seen more youths as young as 10 coming in for help after attempting suicide. This Advisory from the Surgeon General confirms that family engagement on this topic is vital and continues to be one of the core solutions to keeping children safe online and supporting their mental health and well-being. Anna King, President of the National Parent Teacher Association. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. It also comes as the federal government is investing $1 billion to increase access to high-speed Internet across the state. ", U.S. Studies show that volunteering can ease feelings of loneliness and broaden our social networks. Others include to "enact pro-connection public policies;" mobilize the health sector; deepen knowledge (of social disconnection); and cultivate a culture of connection. Social isolation linked to an increased risk of dementia, new study finds. Trained crisis counselors are available for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While the epidemic of loneliness and isolation is widespread and has profound consequences for our individual and collective health and well-being, there is a medicine hiding in plain sight: social connection. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and U.S. But without addressing the issue, the lack of connection contributes to increased hospital visits and dementia, but also a vicious cycle of anxiety and depression that one-third of US adults reported experiencing, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Across age groups, people are spending less time with each. Loyce Pace, MPH Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs (OGA) The Honorable Constance B. Tobias "That's why I think one of the things that's so important about the surgeon general's report is creating a culture of connection.". On Tuesday, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory detailing a framework toward . From left, Dr. Anne Zink, chief medical officer for the state of Alaska, U.S. So we really do need to focus on the continuum of care in Alaska, she said. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy discussed the serious mental health challenges among young people in Alaska and across the country during an Alaska Youth Mental Health Rountable at the UAA/APU Consortium Library on Monday, June 26, 2023. In the United Kingdom, the Surgeon-General is the head of the military medical services. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives, said U.S. At Gray, our journalists report, write, edit and produce the news content that informs the communities we serve. "What we need to protect against, though, are the elements of technology, and social media in particular, that seek to maximize the amount of time that our children are spending online at the expense of their in-person interactions.". Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2021 to serve as the 21st Surgeon General of the United States as a returning role. In January, Californians got their very first state surgeon general, joining only a handful of states to ever have one. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. This is far more than just affecting our emotional well-being, but truly affecting our health.. Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders.". With fewer people interacting in community settings such as churches, synagogues, recreational sports, or more spontaneously at the grocery store, there are fewer moments to see a person for more than their surface level qualities, Murthy said. Sullivan, who called the youth mental health crisis the challenge of our generation, said legislation is in the works to rein in social media sites to better control age restrictions, potentially pushing them to 16, and require that companies release more data about how their sites are being used. Over thousands of years we evolved to not only understand the content of what someone was saying but also to respond to the tone of their voice, to read their body language and to experience their presence, Dr. Murthy said. Beth Rose, co-founder of the Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance, said theres been a steep rise in the number of people younger than 17 with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Some members of Charlottesvilles Latinx community struggle with receiving healthcare due to a language barrier. How Companies Can Help Cure The Loneliness Epidemic - Forbes And sometimes we need somebody else to tell us, 'Hey, you've been withdrawing more' to help us understand that we might actually be dealing with loneliness.". Those consequences extend to the political and social divides that seem to only be widening in the US. The most common question parents ask me is, is social media safe for my kids. And as this Surgeon Generals Advisory makes clear, we as physicians and healers have a responsibility to be part of the effort to do so. Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A., CEO and Medical Director, American Psychiatric Association. O ur Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. A State Surgeon General is the operational head and senior spokesperson on public health in a single state of the United States of America, the state equivalent of the Surgeon General of the United States. We can just truly be us.. Part of this is recognizing that there are real health consequences. US surgeon general Vivek Murthy released an advisory on loneliness and isolation on Tuesday and urged people and public officials to treat the matter with the same urgency as other serious. Across age groups, people are spending less time with each other in person than two decades ago. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. It should cause us all to ask some hard questions about why this passage to adulthood is so hard for young people, said Harvard education lecturer Richard Weissbourd, director of the MCC project and lead author on the survey. Usage of social media can become harmful depending on the amount of time children spend on the platforms, the type of content they consume or are otherwise exposed to, and the degree to which it disrupts activities that are essential for health like sleep and physical activity. Depression and anxiety rates are also high among young adults, perpetuating a vicious cycle of isolation. As physicians, we see firsthand the impact of social media, particularly during adolescence a critical period of brain development. Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases. Departmental leaders are among the most qualified public servants in the Federal Government. And we lose a lot of that when we are communicating electronically.. All rights reserved. Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases. U.S. Surgeon General and Sen. Sullivan address suicide risks by - NBC29 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. We have heard from families who say they need and want information about using social media and devices. It details recommendations that individuals, governments, workplaces, health systems, and community organizations can take to increase connection in their lives, communities, and across the country and improve their health. So bottom line is this has to be a public health priority that we consider on par with tobacco, with substance use disorders, with obesity and other issues that we know profoundly impacted peoples lives.. We need an approach to help children both on and offline that meets each child where they are while also working to make the digital spaces they inhabit safer and healthier. June 17, 2023. Advisories are Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. We are terrified of the statistics that are coming our way, she said. Mobilizing the health sector to address the medical needs that stem from loneliness. As the Nation's Doctor, my office is focused on the most pressing public health issues of our time. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775, Content created by Digital Communications Division (DCD), Advisory Committees, Task Forces & Initiatives, FY 2024 Annual Performance Plan and Report, FY 2023 Annual Performance Plan and Report, FY 2022 Annual Performance Plan and Report, FY 2021 Annual Performance Plan and Report, Strategic Goal 1: Protect and Strengthen Equitable Access to High Quality and Affordable Healthcare, Strategic Goal 2: Safeguard and Improve National and Global Health Conditions and Outcomes, Strategic Goal 3: Strengthen Social Well-Being, Equity, and Economic Resilience, Strategic Goal 4: Restore Trust and Accelerate Advancements in Science and Research for All, Strategic Goal 5: Advance Strategic Management to Build Trust, Transparency, and Accountability.

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