What if our personal relationships were as important as our diet, exercise and sleep as contributors to health outcomes? Multiple recent studies illuminate the role of social connection in reducing the risk of chronic disease and improving physical and mental health. 

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared that loneliness and isolation represent profound threats to our health and well-being. Then, in 2024, the Surgeon General called for a warning label to be added to social media – similar to tobacco warnings – to illustrate the substantial risks digital consumption and resulting isolation can have on both youth and adults.

In fact, the Surgeon General’s advisory states that “extensive scientific findings from a variety of disciplines converge on the same conclusion: social connection is a significant predictor of longevity and better physical, cognitive and mental health.”

As we embrace the Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being framework, the importance of belongingness and civic engagement are central to addressing other social drivers of health. And, as we launch a Blue Zones initiative in the County of Riverside, meaningful social connections have been identified within Blue Zones’ Power 9 as an essential component for longevity and well-being.

Across our community, the need to cultivate social connectedness is clear – in our personal lives, in the lives of those we serve, and in creating greater connectivity between our organizations. As we collectively serve as Champions for Vibrant Health in the Inland Empire, we look forward to partnering together to build stronger networks, relationships and nonprofits that cultivate connectedness and belonging within San Bernardino and Riverside counties.