Now that we are in the Holiday Season, it is appropriate to reflect on the surgeon general's 2023 advisory entitled "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation." Published on May 2, it discusses the growing number of Americans experiencing loneliness, isolation, and social disconnection. People with these issues have an especially hard time during the holidays. Feeling included and connected to others is a basic human need, similar to needing food, water, and shelter. We evolved as social creatures, and we need that human connection to thrive. Loneliness is not just a bad feeling. 

Feeling lonely increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 29%, stroke by 32%, and death by 26%. Feeling lonely can be as severe a risk factor to one's health as smoking three-quarters of a pack a day or being obese or sedentary. It can lead to a weakened immune system, increased inflammation, and increased mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke.  

Loneliness has become a public health concern, with over 60% of US adults reporting feeling lonely at times or always and 20% saying they have no one with whom to discuss important issues. Young adults between 18 and 22 are among the loneliest. In the last couple of decades more and more people live alone, which is, not surprisingly, correlated with feeling lonely.  

Now, at epidemic proportions, loneliness is a problem we all need to address. It doesn't just hurt individuals. When many people in our society are feeling lonely and disconnected, the entire social fabric is threatened. Community connection is important for community well-being such as increased resilience in disasters. Lack of connection increases societal costs, such as the estimated $6.7 billion/year that Medicare must spend in increased hospital and nursing home costs of lonely adults, the lower academic achievements of lonely kids, and worse performance and increased absenteeism of lonely people in the workforce. 

Combating loneliness is both an individual and societal activity. 

At the communal level, the City of Alamosa is doing some good work in this regard. Its efforts to build infrastructure around the city that will increase social interaction include the Alamosa Riverfront Project as well as the Hunt Avenue Cultural Trail project. Both are innovative and exciting ideas to build a city that encourages social connections and decreases loneliness. The city's First Friday events also increase community connection. All of these efforts need to be commended.  

Many of the nonprofit organizations in the San Luis Valley also help increase social cohesiveness. The efforts of ALMA (Alamosa Live Music Association) come to mind, with its free Sundays at Six concerts in the summer and the Holiday Sing-A-Long with Don Richmond at Milagros Coffee on Dec. 22 at 6 pm. ALMA also sponsors other great concerts during the year. Community events sponsored by other groups, such as free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, also provide for some great social interaction. On an individual level, attending such community events can ease feelings of disconnectedness and loneliness. Besides attending events, lonely folks should consider increasing their time helping others through volunteering. For older folks, programs such as the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (www.sparkthechangecolorado.org/rsvp.html) is a great place to start. This program offers those 55 years old and up various opportunities to volunteer locally, from driving meals to seniors to teaching knitting at the Senior Center to collecting food at the grocery store for Care and Share. 

For younger folks, helping at the local food bank, homeless shelter, bookstore, or thrift store is possible. Another way to feel better is to smile and be kind to others. One never knows how important just a smile and a thoughtful gesture can be. Such actions benefit both the giver and receiver. They make everyone a little more connected and a little less lonely. 

In summary, then, loneliness is a big problem both for individuals with its physical and mental health ramifications and for society as a whole with its resulting increased costs and decreased productivity, achievements, and safety. The Holiday Season is a time when many lonely people feel even lonelier. What better time could there be to go out of one's way to be friendly, kind, and thoughtful to others? What better time could there be to volunteer one's labor and skills for others? Such efforts decrease one's own, as well as society's, problem with loneliness. 

Elizabeth (Beth) Kinney moved to the Valley in 1993, attracted to Alamosa by Valley-Wide Health Services. She worked as a family practice physician for seven years and then moved to emergency care. Kinney worked as an emergency physician first at the Alamosa and Rio Grande Hospitals and later at the Conejos County Hospital until retiring in 2017.