INSPIRATION FOR LONELINESS & ISOLATION
Disconnection is widespread. What can we do to prevent it?
Read
5 Ways to Support Patients Who are Isolated or Lonely
In a world where isolation and loneliness have become increasingly prevalent, caregivers and healthcare providers play a crucial role in supporting patients with chronic conditions.
READ THE POST | Hero Health Hub
5 Ways to Create a Culture of Connection for Remote Workers
Creating a culture of connection for remote workers is vital for their well-being and productivity. By prioritizing social well-being, organizations can cultivate a thriving remote work culture.
READ THE ARTICLE | Psychology Today
Applying the Social-Ecological Model of Health to Loneliness
A personal experience organizing an intergenerational gathering sparked the realization of the power of local community action in addressing loneliness.
READ THE ARTICLE | Medium
Isolation Starves Your Brain
A recent study from MIT reveals that both hunger and isolation activate the same area of the brain linked to craving. Just as hunger signals the need for food, loneliness acts as a cue for the essential need for connection.
READ THE ARTICLE | Psychology Today
Lessons from COVID-19: Improving Social Health to Build Community Resilience
This article recommends ways to improve social health proactively and preventively so that communities are better prepared for climate change.
READ THE ARTICLE | ASA Generations
Spotlight on Social Connection
This article explores key opportunities for fostering meaningful connections and community building in various domains such as public spaces, transportation, entertainment, food, and digital social networks.
READ THE ARTICLE | Medium
The Surprising Way to Boost Your Immunity
We often focus on preventive measures like hand-washing and vaccinations to avoid getting sick. However, there's an overlooked health habit that can significantly boost your immune system: human connection.
READ THE ARTICLE | Psychology Today
An Epidemic of Loneliness, Worsened by Covid
Readers discuss social isolation as a serious public health issue.
READ THE ARTICLE | New York Times
Volunteering: A Solution for Loneliness
Loneliness is a widespread problem with serious health implications, affecting a significant portion of the population. By actively participating in volunteer opportunities, individuals can contribute to building a culture of social health, one interaction at a time.
READ THE ARTICLE | Scientific American
Did People Get Lonelier During the Pandemic?
Conflicting studies on the impact of the pandemic on loneliness have emerged, but a new comprehensive analysis confirms a small overall increase in loneliness.
READ THE ARTICLE | Psychology Today
In The Midst Of The Pandemic, Loneliness Has Leveled Out
People have recognized the importance of relationships, leading to increased social and emotional support. Technology and acts of kindness have played a vital role in maintaining connections.
READ THE ARTICLE | Scientific American
Three Things to Know if you Feel Lonely.
Loneliness is a common issue affecting mental health and well-being, but there are steps we can take to combat it. Justin Bieber's song, "Lonely," delves into the experience of feeling isolated and misunderstood, resonating with many listeners who can relate to loneliness on a deeper level.
READ THE ARTICLE | Psychology Today
Mobilizing Social Support in Healthcare: A Guide for Providers
Caring for patients is a team effort. This article emphasizes the importance of social support in healthcare and its impact on patient outcomes. It highlights that human connection can improve physical and mental well-being, enhance treatment adherence, and even extend patient longevity.
READ THE ARTICLE | CaringBridge
The Growing Social Wellness Landscape
People crave connection. So startups are designing for it. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of social connection, leading to an increase in startups focusing on social wellness. These startups aim to reduce loneliness, build communities, and facilitate meaningful connections.
READ THE ARTICLE | Medium
The Link Between Loneliness & Medication Adherence
Loneliness can impact medication adherence among patients with chronic conditions. Research suggests that a lack of support and social connection may contribute to non-adherence.
READ THE ARTICLE | Hero Health
To Combat Loneliness, Promote Social Health
Loneliness is a growing epidemic with profound health implications. Scientific evidence highlights the critical role of social connections in disease prevention and overall well-being. Make social health a public health priority, join initiatives like the Togetherness Program and the Campaign to End Loneliness.
READ THE ARTICLE | Scientific American
5 Major Myths About Loneliness
Discover the truth about loneliness. In this article, Kasley debunks five myths, including the difference between loneliness and social isolation, the impact on health, and its relevance for all age groups.
READ THE ARTICLE | Psychology Today
Understanding Loneliness and Social Health Innovations in the COVID-19 Era
Exploring the impact of the pandemic on social relationships and the emerging solutions to combat loneliness: takeaways from the UCL-Penn Global COVID Study.
READ THE ARTICLE | UCL Open Environment
Legislation Can't Solve Loneliness, But It Can Help
Legislation aims to address social isolation and loneliness among older adults by allocating $250 million in funding. While this is a step in the right direction, the proposed bill exclusively focuses on older adults, overlooking the loneliness experienced by younger generations.
READ THE ARTICLE | Health Affairs
Preventing Caregiver Burnout through Social Support
The article emphasizes the importance of social support for caregivers to prevent burnout. It highlights that caregivers are not alone in feeling isolated and that social support can enhance their well-being.
READ THE ARTICLE | Hero Health
The Power of Human Connection on the Patient Journey
When it comes to chronic conditions, healthcare plans often focus on physical and mental health aspects, but the importance of social health is often overlooked. Incorporating social health into care plans can lead to improved overall well-being.
READ THE ARTICLE | Hero Health
How to Prevent Loneliness in a Time of Social Distancing
Research shows that developing digital habits that support meaningful human connections can mitigate loneliness. Utilize video chat, engage in acts of kindness through direct messages or emails, cultivate online communities based on shared interests, nurture existing relationships, and explore tools and apps designed to optimize online interactions.
READ THE ARTICLE | Scientific American
5 Ways to Address the Loneliness Epidemic
And ask yourself more generally: Are you meaningfully engaging with the people in your life — near and far, young and old, whether family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, or strangers you cross paths with? Or can you do better?
READ THE ARTICLE | Medium
7 Tips for Spending the Holidays Alone
Spending the holidays alone can be tough, but there are ways to take care of your social well-being and make the most of the situation.
READ THE ARTICLE | Psychology Today
Making Healthy Places: Designing and Building for Well-Being, Equity, and Sustainability
In Making Healthy Places, Second Edition: Designing and Building for Well-Being, Equity, and Sustainability, planning and public health experts Nisha D. Botchwey, Andrew L. Dannenberg, and Howard Frumkin bring together scholars and practitioners from across the globe in fields ranging from public health, planning, and urban design, to sustainability, social work, and public policy. This updated and expanded edition explains how to design and build places that are beneficial to the physical, mental, and emotional health of humans, while also considering the health of the planet.
READ KASLEY’S CONTRIBUTED CHAPTER | Island Press
A resource for students and professionals in public health, planning, architecture, civil engineering, transportation, and related fields.
Listen
The Power of One Meaningful Connection Per Day
Listen to the conversation between Andy Proctor, a happiness activist, and Kasley Killam, MPH, an expert in social health and human connection. Together, they discuss ways to make your life more happy with science backed strategies and the impact of friendship on our health.
HEAR IT HERE | More Happy Life Podcast
Social Wellbeing During a Pandemic
In this conversation, we discuss: loneliness stats in the pandemic, the importance of relationships on our physical health, our experiences with loneliness and connection, Kasley’s public health research on social health, chronic vs. situational loneliness, why more friends is not the answer to loneliness, the shifting needs of social capital, and the future of loneliness and connection with physical distancing.
HEAR IT HERE | Conversations that Don’t Suck Podcast
Who We Become When We’re Lonely
Brands are facing the fact that loneliness has become a part of our identities, crisis or not. But you can’t talk about loneliness without talking about the meaning of rituals. Social scientist Kasley Killam, speaks about models of ritual, connection, and how loneliness can actually pivot our lives in surprising directions.
HEAR IT HERE | Unseen Unknown Podcast
Stories of COVID-19: Loss of Physical Touch
This series begins in New York City, the center of the early days of the pandemic, with a story from Harvey Katz, one of the hosts and creators of Take Two Storytelling. In this story, Harvey, a brand-new nurse, is thrust into the hectic environment of a Brooklyn ICU at the onset of the pandemic. Harvey’s story is followed by an interview with social scientist Kasley Killam, on the impact of the loss of physical contact due to the pandemic.
HEAR IT HERE | Story Collider Podcast
Addressing Loneliness in a Time of Social Distancing
In this helpful episode, Kasley Killam, a social scientist by training, a strategist by practice, and a community connector at heart, offers advice for preserving your mental health while avoiding physical proximity both in the here and now and in the future.
HEAR IT HERE | Someone to Tell it To Podcast
Social Health and Staying Connected During COVID-19 Physical Distancing
This podcast features conversations on all things wellness, impact, and leadership with friends who are using their voices and platforms to cultivate compassion, creativity, and change.
HEAR IT HERE | Tiffany & Yu Podcast
Exploring the Third Dimension to Our Well-Being: Social Health
More than one-third of Americans over the age of 45 report feeling lonely, with prevalence especially high among those under 25 and over 65 years old. While this alarming trend has grown, so has the understanding and evidence of its impact: Social connection significantly affects the health of all of us. Kasley Killam, talks about the need to go beyond our traditional thinking that physical and mental health are all that matter.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE | Voice America - 45 Forward Radio Show
What to Do About Loneliness? Ways to Connect for Happiness and Health
Social connection is important for everyone, not just people who are isolated or lonely. We all need to take care of our social well being and ensure that we are connected in our relationships and in our communities.
HEAR IT HERE | At Home, On Air Podcast
COVID-19, Isolation, Loneliness and Your Mental Health
Kasley Killam, joins for a conversation about loneliness, and isolation during this trying time and how we can protect our mental health even when we may not be able to connect physically with others. In this conversation we cover her suggestions on how to prevent loneliness, and we dig into what isolation is, how it’s different than loneliness and why both impact us as humans so much.
HEAR IT HERE | Stigma Podcast
Watch
Connected Conversations with the
Genwell Project
Watch the Facebook Live conversation on why staying connected is critical to our health and happiness.
WATCH IT HERE | The GenWell Project Facebook Live
Fighting Social Isolation and Loneliness
Watch the Innovation Series conversation on what we can do to combat loneliness and isolation in our communities.
Goodbye Loneliness, Hello Social Health
Watch as Kasley shares her perspective on social health, explains the problem that we are facing with isolation and loneliness, and provides solutions for healthier relationships.
WATCH IT HERE | Lightning Talk presentation Harvard Alumni Week
Watch the conversation that aired on NBC across the US.
“Being alone doesn’t necessarily mean that you are lonely. Your relationship with yourself is the foundation for your relationships with others.”
-Kasley Killam
WATCH THE INTERVIEW | NBC LX News
The Future of Health is Social
Kasley’s presentation highlights that the crisis based approach to our health is outdated and every step we can take to shift our focus to prevention can reduce the pressure on the healthcare system, improve life satisfaction and the well-being of people.
WATCH IT HERE | The GenWell Project
Social Wellness Over the Holidays
Got the Holiday Blues? For this Self-Care Sunday, join Kasley with Koko AI for a crash course: Social Wellness Over the Holidays.
WATCH IT HERE | Tumblr x Koko
