Want to Live Longer, Healthier, and Happier? Then Cultivate Your Social Connections
1 min read
Summary
Social scientist Kasley Killam has called for a new focus on ‘social health’ as the third pillar of human health, alongside physical and mental health.
She highlights the startling statistics that show that a lack of social connections increases the risk of various diseases, including stroke and dementia, with sufferers two to three times more likely to die in the next decade compared to those with healthy relationships, regardless of their physical and mental health.
Killam also emphasise the role of technology in exacerbating the problem of ‘overconnection’ where people are more connected than ever before but not in meaningful or authentic ways.
However, she ends on a positive note, highlighting the potential of a social health movement, including initiatives like Social Health Labs which gives $1,000 grants to people with ideas for connecting with their local communities.
