Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation 2023: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community

Introduction: Why Social Connection Matters Our relationships and interactions with family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors are just some of what create social connection. Our connection with others and our community is also informed by our neighborhoods,  digital environments, schools, and workplaces. Social connection—the structure, function, and quality of our relationships with others—is a critical and underappreciated contributor to individual and population health,  community safety, resilience, and prosperity.6,17,32-36 However, far too many Americans lack social connection in one or more ways, compromising these benefits and leading to poor health and other negative outcomes.