America has a new epidemic. It can’t be treated using traditional therapies even though it has debilitating and even deadly consequences.

The problem seeping in at the corners of our communities is loneliness and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is hoping to generate awareness and offer remedies before it claims more lives.

“Most of us probably think of loneliness as just a bad feeling,” he told USA TODAY. “It turns out that loneliness has far greater implications for our health when we struggle with a sense of social disconnection, being lonely or isolated.”

Loneliness is detrimental to mental and physical health, experts say, leading to an increased risk of heart disease, dementia, stroke and premature death. As researchers track record levels of self-reported loneliness, public health leaders are banding together to develop a public health framework to address the epidemic.

  • @Fades
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    1011 months ago

    Well the third place just doesn’t really exist in the majority of the US anymore, thanks to hyper capitalism and valuing roads and parking lots over people and traversability.

  • @[email protected]
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    711 months ago

    Maybe if we didn’t build our cities and communities so hostile to humans, this wouldn’t be as much as a problem.

  • kingthrillgore
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    411 months ago

    It doesn’t help that there’s like 46% of Americans I don’t want to associate with.