Welcome to the Coalition Blog
A place for innovators and thought leaders to share their insights on how we can mitigate social isolation & loneliness.
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Linda, Gerald, Stacey, Chris, Diane, Ron, Vicki, Lisa, Tim, Scotty, Joy, Ian, Zoe. What do those names have in common? They are Jennifer’s neighbors. Nothing else. They do not share age, ethnicity, opinion, career, education, or even social status. The thing they have in common…
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Earlier this year, Social Health Labs and the Foundation for Social Connection wrapped up Connect+Conversations, an event series that convened 26 experts and over 2,500 community members from 55 countries to discuss how to reduce and prevent loneliness. Over the course of the series, we…
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The right to an environment that enables wellbeing and positive mental health is gaining momentum globally in the public health arena. Loneliness has always been a pressing issue for human beings as we are social creatures who thrive in an environment of connectedness and mutual…
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As Maya Angelou so aptly stated, “A friend may be waiting behind a stranger’s face.” We all start as unfamiliar others before finding ourselves on a unique path to friendship. Each path to friendship is a one of a kind experience, with specific scaffolding forming…
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I am a Geriatrician and palliative medicine physician who became interested in the health effects of loneliness over a decade ago when I was a young medical resident. At that time, I was most interested in understanding what factors led to my patients’ loss of…
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By Mental Health First Aid Social isolation and loneliness were a growing concern well before the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, in a 2017 report from the Harvard Business Review, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy stated that America was experiencing a loneliness epidemic. This epidemic…
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By Maggie DeCosse, Policy and Communications Intern at ACTNow for Mental Health The COVID-19 pandemic has been isolating for everyone, with much focus being given to its effects on children and the elderly. ACTNow for Mental Health (ANMH) aims to shine a light on the…
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By Brandon Reavis, Senior Government Relations Manager at Trust for America’s Health When Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and Well Being Trust began our Pain in the Nation report series examining the alcohol, drug, and suicide crises in the United States in 2017, drug-induced causes…
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By Boaz Gaon, Founder & CEO of Wisdo Health It’s a staggering statistic: 58% of Americans today experience loneliness and isolation. Loneliness is quite literally at epidemic levels. According to a recent report by Cigna, “…examining the different issues affecting the one in five adults…
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By Laura Belazis, Senior Director of Strategy and Impact at Meals on Wheels America If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s just how valuable connection is to each and every one of us. Months of physical distancing, limiting our interactions and staying at…