{"id":15917,"date":"2023-05-04T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-04T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/?p=15917"},"modified":"2023-08-30T14:10:54","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T18:10:54","slug":"the-surgeon-general-is-calling-loneliness-an-epidemic-heres-how-we-solve-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/the-surgeon-general-is-calling-loneliness-an-epidemic-heres-how-we-solve-it\/","title":{"rendered":"The Surgeon General is Calling Loneliness an Epidemic. Here\u2019s How We Solve It."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

United States Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy issued a grave warning in a New York Times<\/em> op-ed on Sunday<\/a>. His message was simple but serious: we\u2019re facing a loneliness epidemic in this country. A new advisory<\/a> indicates that more than half of U.S. adults (58%) are lonely. Think about that for a moment. More than half of the people you know feel lonely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What people don\u2019t realize about loneliness is that it can happen to anyone. Dr. Vivek H. Murthy describes his own battles with loneliness after becoming Surgeon General in 2014. Landing your dream job or moving to a new city may be something you have worked toward for years, but major life changes\u2014even positive ones\u2014can leave you feeling uprooted and isolated from others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loneliness is far more than just a feeling and its consequences are severe. Studies show that loneliness can lead to anxiety and depression, heart disease, dementia, and stroke. The prevailing wisdom is that loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Source: Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At Meetup, these facts aren\u2019t news. We know that people are craving connection. Adults are spending significantly less time with friends and family. I\u2019m heartened to see the highest-ranking medical officer in the United States has taken a clear stance on this issue. This grave epidemic isn\u2019t going to change without a dedicated effort from all of us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meetup\u2019s role in ending the loneliness epidemic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meetup\u2019s roots are in human connection and socializing<\/a>. When our founder Scott Heiferman was living in Manhattan in the days after the 9\/11 attacks, he saw neighbors come together and offer support for the first time. He recognized that connection was essential for us all and that technology could play a role in this healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Meetup launched in 2002, we\u2019ve helped 60 million members use technology to log off technology and connect in real life. We\u2019re in more than 190 countries helping people with shared interests\u2014be it hiking, book clubs, technology, you name it\u2014find one another and, of course, foster lasting friendships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since day one, Meetup has helped people connect over the things that matter\u2014and group organizers have been key to our mission. Organizer Omar Acosta<\/a> has brought thousands of locals in Dallas together to shake up their weekends and try new adventures. Alysia Allen<\/a> used Meetup to carve out a space for Black women who love to read. Today, Mocha Girls Read<\/a> has more than 10,000 members in book clubs across the country. David Good<\/a> credits Meetup with being a major boon to his own history of working through isolation. He started the International Friends Connection<\/a> network, which has the remarkable goal to help 1 million people connect by 2030. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve put together resources for making Meetup a part of your mental health journey<\/a>. There you\u2019ll find advice from therapists, Meetup members, and organizers, as well as blog articles and podcast episodes on developing your social life. We share the work of outstanding organizations who are working in their own way to chisel away at the loneliness crisis we\u2019re facing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s end loneliness, together <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In light of the Surgeon General\u2019s message, it\u2019s clear that Meetup\u2019s mission is more urgent than ever. Here\u2019s how you can get involved in this urgent work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Reconnect with someone you know<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Send a text to a friend or family member and make a plan to meet. It\u2019s okay if it\u2019s been a while. Suggest a concrete plan like getting coffee, catching a movie, or going on a walk. Avoid vague plans to ensure you actually get together; suggest a specific time and a place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Meet new people, make new friendships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Friendship can happen anywhere. Start with the people closest to you. Suggest an after-work drink or coffee with a coworker you like. Invite a neighbor on a walk. Ask for the name of someone you see at the dog park every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commit to doing one social activity each week. Volunteer. Play trivia. Host a dinner party. There are thousands of events happening on Meetup every day. Download our app<\/a> to see what\u2019s happening near you<\/a>. Keep your promise to yourself. RSVP to an event and make sure you go, you won\u2019t regret it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m grateful to each and every member, organizer, and employee at Meetup for their help in this urgent cause to end loneliness for good. Remember, the only way out is together!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Learn about what Meetup is doing to solve the loneliness epidemic from CEO David Siegel. <\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":15928,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Surgeon General is Calling Loneliness an Epidemic. Here\u2019s How We Solve It. - Meetup Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/the-surgeon-general-is-calling-loneliness-an-epidemic-heres-how-we-solve-it\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Surgeon General is Calling Loneliness an Epidemic. 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