Connection is the Antidote to Loneliness
As I read through the Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community, in response to what Vivek Murthy calls a loneliness and isolation epidemic, I have to wonder: can we do better here in Eagle County?
We seem to be more connected than ever before, yet we are in many cases the most lonely and isolated that we have ever been, AND IT IS KILLING US!
For starters lacking social connection can increase the risk of premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day and the data goes on and on with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression and dementia.
Social connection is a fundamental human need, as essential to survival as food, water, and shelter. In a recent Guardian.com article, Murthy shares that “Loneliness is like hunger, a signal we’re lacking something for survival.”
You may have 1000 social media friends, but do you have someone that would feed your cat or pick up your prescriptions? The reality is that social media can be useful, but it is the junk food of social connection.
According to the JED Foundation 2023 Suicide Trends Report: “While time spent online can be social, it does not directly replace loss of in-person time, and for young people ages 15–24, time spent in person with friends dropped by more than half over the last two decades — from more than 150 minutes per day in 2003 to less than 70 minutes per day in 2020'.” I would argue that we could find the same kind of statistics for adults and it is probably worse for adults older than 65.
The good news is there is a simple fix. Be in community more often and build your social connections. Below are a few tips and ideas to start the process. Keep in mind it does take work. I said it was simple, not necessarily easy. But I am telling you the reward is worth the risk, it could even save a life.
Volunteer: It is a great way to meet new people and volunteering has other healing benefits, too. Some organizations that I know are always looking for volunteers: The Community Market, Habitat for Humanity, and Mountain Valley Horse Rescue just to name a few.
Reach out to a support buddy for a walk or cup of coffee. It takes effort to cultivate relationships but if we do not do it they can feel like a dying crop. Make it a routine visit. Maybe once a month or every couple of weeks.
Join a support group or connection activity: SpeakUp ReachOut offers a variety of Peer Support Groups. Reconnected offers a variety of connection opportunities.
Invite a coworker to lunch. Even if it's just in the break room. No need for extravagant lunches out on the town. It is about presence and conversation, not dollars and elegance.
Take a class and learn something new. You might just meet a new friend, too.
Little sparks of meaningful connection can look like smiling and saying "hi" to strangers; hold the door open for someone; give a compliment; hang out somewhere social like a coffee shop. Interaction with people we don’t know can be a small building block and it just might make their day.
For more ideas on cultivating connections here are some ideas from Vivek Murthy's 5-for-5 challenge, where you commit to connect for 5 days.
One by one we can build a culture of connection.
Implementing connectedness strategies is one of the main pillars of the Colorado National Collaborative for Suicide Prevention, which is the prevention strategy that SpeakUp ReachOut is using in Eagle County. By implementing connectedness strategies, the County will increase the protective factors in order to reduce isolation, loneliness, suicide attempts and death.