In his parting prescription for the country, outgoing US Surgeon General, Doctor Vivek Murthy writes that he is worried about how exhausted and alone Americans are. Public health experts say loneliness has become an epidemic. Research shows social disconnection is about as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and more harmful than obesity.

But loneliness in America is hardly new. Sociologists like Robert Putnam, author of the groundbreaking book Bowling Alone, have been sounding the alarm for nearly 25 years. In that time, loneliness has only accelerated, with online interaction replacing much of our face-to-face connection. What exactly is lacking for so many people in this country? What is the most useful way to think about this problem? And how can we solve it?

Guests:

Dr. Frank Clark, psychiatrist at Prisma-Health Upstate, clinical associate professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville ( https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/authors/frank-clark-md)

Matt Fantastic, co-owner of Elm City Games in New Haven, Connecticut (https://www.elmcitygames.com/)

Charlotte Donlon, spiritual director and author of The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other (https://charlottedonlon.com/the-great-belonging-book)

Links:

Dr. Vivek Murthy’s Parting Prescription for America: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/my-parting-prescription-for-america.pdf

US Surgeon General’s Advisory Report on Loneliness: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf