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Phone a Friend

By Amy D

Growing up in a small town in the Midwest, it was a common evening family activity to watch game shows on television. I was never very good at trivia-style games, but I did enjoy watching “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and imagining who I would invite to be my Phone a Friend lifeline in the event I was ever in the position to compete for the big jackpot.

I believe it was Aristotle who first said, “Man is a social creature.” Our species has evolved to rely on cooperation to survive and thrive. Humans have an innate, biologically driven ability to develop and form interpersonal connections, and our social well-being is foundational to our mental health.

Americans report feeling more isolated in recent decades despite being wired for social connection. Dr. Vivek Murthy, the 19th and 21st surgeon general of the United States, has called loneliness a public health concern, leading to increased risk of death and disease, including depression and anxiety. Approximately one in two Americans report feeling lonely. While this trend is seen across age groups, the risk may be elevated explicitly in groups that experience discrimination and marginalization.

The National Institute of Health has created wellness toolkits that highlight evidence-based tips for living well and improving health, and the toolkit focusing on social wellness includes six specific strategies:

  1. Make connections: join a group focused on a new hobby, learn something new
  2. Taking care of yourself while caring: ask for help, try to take breaks each day
  3. Get active together: build your network, join a team
  4. Shape your family’s health habits: be a role model, limit screen time
  5. Bond with your kids: ask about your child’s concerns, worries, goals, and ideas
  6. Build healthy relationships: share your feelings honestly and listen to each other without judgment or blame

Dr. Murthy also issued a “5-for-5 challenge” to build and strengthen relationships and inspire others:

  • Commit to connect: Pick five actions and five days in a row to communicate with people in your life
  • Connect each day for five days: Each day, take a straightforward action of your choice to express gratitude, offer support, or ask for help.

As you set your 2025 intentions for strengthening your foundation of health, don’t forget the importance of social connection. Perhaps take a moment to Phone a Friend.

 

Resources

nih.gov/health-information/social-wellness-toolkit

hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/connection/challenge/index.html