It may not shock you that more Americans are lonely these days, as we live in a world increasingly focused on digital spaces.

The phrase social network has been so co-opted by digital platforms that its first association is a set of digital engagements on an online platform owned by a private for-profit company. Posted photos, reshares, and likes, are the first definition of social network these days instead of the in-person and/or long-distance network of people you spend time with, complete projects with, share meals with or tell secrets to. Everyone should have at least one friend they tell their secrets to, and at least one friend who will give you advice you don’t want to hear.

The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on “the loneliness epidemic” last week and the threats it poses to long-term health. According to the advisory, a lack of social connection can increase the risk of premature death at levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

This trend began pre-COVID-pandemic. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has been talking about the loneliness epidemic for quite a few years, including a 2017 article in the Harvard Business Review looking at the ways that workplaces can affect loneliness.

Social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of heart disease (by 29 percent) and stroke (by 32 percent), while a smaller social network (not the online kind, but the in-person spending time with people kind) is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Something you likely know if you’ve done much reading about dementia is that poor social connections also increase the risk of developing dementia for older adults (according to the advisory, by an alarming 50 percent).

More obviously, loneliness also impacts mental health and can increase the likelihood of developing health issues like depression.

The advisory points to collective solutions to address the problem—things like strengthening public spaces like libraries and parks. We are fortunate in Socorro to have a great library and many parks, not to mention quite a few church communities. One space that could aid this plight of loneliness is senior centers, which is part of why it’s crucial for our local senior centers to re-open and become active gathering spaces again.

Cathy Cook | El Defensor Chieftain Editor