The Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy, recently made history by declaring a loneliness epidemic. Feelings of loneliness are on the rise, especially among young people, which can lead to serious health risks.

This episode of “Heart of the Matter” is an extended version of Elizabeth Vargas’ conversation with Dr. Vivek Murthy for her news show “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” on NewsNation. They discuss his decision to declare the loneliness epidemic, the importance of rebuilding connections, and how we can make small changes in our daily lives to improve our mental health. Dr. Murthy also talks about his own personal experience with loneliness and shame, and why it’s so important to discuss these struggles openly. 

Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and drugfree.org.

Related Reading

After you listen, explore these resources from Partnership to End Addiction to learn more about the topics and themes discussed in this episode:

Mental Health Awareness resources

Is Your Child at Risk? A Substance Use Risk Assessment

Fact Check: Substance Use and Mental Health (video)

Prevention & Early Action

Treatment & Recovery

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