Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General, says that even before the Covid-19 pandemic, we were facing another health crisis: loneliness. Studies show that, around the world, more people have been feeling a greater sense of social isolation, which has many negative affects, including increased blood pressure, reduced immune response, and decreased engagement and productivity at work. But organizations can be a place where people find a greater sense of belonging. Murthy wants us to take loneliness more seriously and focus on fostering the types of authentic connections — face-to-face and virtual — that we need to combat it. He’s the author of the book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.
