Published By: Weill Cornell Medicine

In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General—Dr. Vivek Murthy—issued a report that drew attention to an epidemic that affects 1 out of 2 American adults. Half of us are lonely.

Loneliness and social isolation, Dr. Murthy says, are urgent public health concerns, more widespread than smoking, diabetes or anxiety. It also turns out that loneliness poses severe risks to health and longevity.

Sharing his own expertise about the loneliness epidemic and what we can do about it, Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Director of the General Psychiatry Residency Program and Vice Chair of Education in Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine, answers your FAQs and clarifies the major points raised in Dr. Murthy’s report.

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