NewsHour Productions – According to the American Psychiatric Association’s latest monthly poll, 1 in 3 Americans said they felt lonely at least once a week over the past year.
Edward Garcia, head of the nonprofit Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness, joins Ali Rogin to discuss the cause and how communities can work to combat it.
[Transcript]
John Yang:
The American Psychiatric Association’s latest monthly poll found that one in three Americans said they felt lonely at least once a week over the past year. Ali Rogin has more on what’s causing a surge in loneliness and how communities can work to combat it.
Ali Rogin:
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Last year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy sounded the alarm on the effect chronic loneliness can have on people’s health. A report released from his office last spring revealed that social isolation can be as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.
Now some local leaders are heeding the warning. In California, San Mateo County, which includes part of Silicon Valley, became the first in the nation to declare loneliness a public health emergency.
Edward Garcia heads the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness, a nonprofit organization that partners with healthcare experts and policymakers.
Edward, thank you so much for being here. Why are we as a country so lonely?
Edward Garcia, Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness:
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Right know, I think there are many cultural drivers that look at why we’re so lonely. But I want to take it a little step back and say that loneliness and isolation are not new occurrences.
Unfortunately, the most marginalized in our society have always been at higher risk of social isolation and loneliness …