One of the nation’s leading voices in public health will speak about issues related to loneliness at an Arlington event later this week.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, who served as surgeon general under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, will address the “epidemic of loneliness” on Thursday at VHC Health (1701 N. George Mason Drive).
Murthy will discuss “its deep ties to physical health, mental wellness, and substance use recovery,” according to an event description. He will also highlight “how fostering connection can transform communities, support healing, and build resilience in the face of isolation.”
The 48-year-old physician previously called attention to loneliness while serving in the Biden administration, penning an 82-page advisory on the topic while in office.
Murthy noted in the report that a cross-country listening tour “was a lightbulb moment for me: social disconnection was far more common than I had realized.”
“Given the profound consequences of loneliness and isolation, we have an opportunity, and an obligation, to make the same investments in addressing social connection that we have made in addressing tobacco use, obesity, and the addiction crisis,” Murthy wrote.
“If we fail to do so,” he added, “we will pay an ever-increasing price in the form of our individual and collective health and well-being … Instead of coming together to take on the great challenges before us, we will further retreat to our corners — angry, sick, and alone.”
Thursday’s event will begin with refreshments and resource tables starting at 5 p.m. A welcome and opening remarks will be delivered after, with Murthy’s moderated conversation beginning at approximately 6 p.m.
Tickets for the event are available online at no cost via EventBrite.
Photo via Biden White House/Flickr
