Susan Pinker: The secret to living longer may be your social life

How to address racism like the public health crisis it is The killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis has sparked public outcry across the United States, including its medical associations. Over the past week, several have made it clear that in their eyes, racism is a public health issue. Many of those statements—including those from the American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Public Health Association—have highlighted the police brutality that disproportionately affects Black Americans.

The risks of social isolation Overview CE credits: 1 Learning objectives: After reading this article, CE candidates will be able to: Identify the effects of social isolation and loneliness on physical, mental and cognitive health.Explore how loneliness differs from social isolation.Discuss evidence-based interventions for combating loneliness. For more information on earning CE credit for this article, go to www.apa.org/ed/ce/resources/ce-corner.aspx. According to a 2018 national survey by Cigna, loneliness levels have reached an all-time high, with nearly half of 20,000 U.S. adults reporting they sometimes or always feel alone. ‘The weight of change should not rest on the shoulders of Black people’ Esi Edugyan: For true systemic shifts to occur, everyone has to recognize that the whole underlying structure is so irreparably broken that no one can afford to live like this anymore In the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police in the U.S., Maclean’s asked Black Canadian writers to pen open letters to America addressing the recent upheaval and the task of confronting racism that—deny it as some Canadians might—persists in their own country. To the woman on the plane, It was the spring of 2018, and we were flying from Denver to Seattle. You were in late middle age, your blond hair greying at the roots, and you were travelling with a younger woman I assumed to be your daughter.

Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions Social isolation was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia and other serious medical conditions. Loneliness and social isolation in older adults are serious public health risks affecting a significant number of people in the United States and putting them at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions. A new reportexternal icon from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) points out that more than one-third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated.1 Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss. Loneliness is the feeling being alone, regardless of the amount of social contact.

Softening the blow - Climate adaptation policies are needed more than ever ON MAY 16TH a telltale anticlockwise spiral of clouds in satellite images taken over the Bay of Bengal warned of impending disaster. Four days later Supercyclone Amphan made landfall, the most powerful storm to do so in the region in 20 years. Winds gusting at up to 185km/h pounded the coast of the Indian state of West Bengal, which took the brunt of the impact. Huge waves swept over the Indian and Bangladeshi coast. Effects of Social Isolation on Mental Health Reading Time: 4 minutes Practicing physical distancing means that teens aren’t able to interact in real life with friends and peers. Their normal routines of school, sports, and/or extracurricular activities have been disrupted, and—like everyone right now—they’re feeling abnormal levels of stress. Hence, this is an important time for parents to understand the effects of social isolation on mental health when it comes to their teenager. Whether teens are suffering from the lack of peer companionship or feeling stifled at home with siblings, social isolation can be difficult. In addition, if adults are distressed or families are experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19, teens’ well-being will also be undermined.

How Covid-19 could change the way we use our cities When Helen Flitcroft goes to work in the morning, her commute is a five second walk to her home office. A mind coach, Flitcroft began running her business Stellar Humans from her New Plymouth home in Brooklands long before lockdown made working from home compulsory. Since she set up her home office she rarely visits the central business district, she says. '''We probably only go into the city centre as a family in the weekend to get something to eat or a takeaway or something like that.'' READ MORE: * Motorists travelling at high speeds still causing concern * Council denies planned 144-home Oakura subdivision * Time called on reserve land encroachments by exclusive New Plymouth seaside properties

The consequences of socially isolating seniors - TMC News As social creatures, humans are naturally hardwired to seek companionship and social connection, but COVID-19 is forcing people to adapt to a new reality anchored by social distancing and isolation. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Looking for the latest on the CORONAVIRUS? Read our daily updates HERE. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Social distancing is critical to managing the coronavirus pandemic, as it will help flatten the curve and prevent the United States health care system from collapse.

COVID-19 cases are on the rise among young adults, but health experts aren’t sure why People in their 20s are helping to drive transmission of COVID-19 in many Ontario hot spots, but public-health experts say it’s unclear where they are getting infected, which could hamper efforts to contain further spread. The issue is taking on increasing urgency as the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, Windsor and other populous parts of the province cannot move to the next stage of reopening their economies until they reduce their numbers of new cases. For example, Toronto still has an average of 140 new cases a day.

The loneliness of social isolation can affect your brain and raise dementia risk in older adults Physical pain is unpleasant, yet it’s vital for survival because it’s a warning that your body is in danger. It tells you to take your hand off a hot burner or to see a doctor about discomfort in your chest. Pain reminds us all that we need to take care of ourselves. Feeling lonely is the social equivalent to feeling physical pain. It even triggers the same pathways in the brain that are involved in processing emotional responses to physical pain. Should Robots Have a Face? When Tina Sorg first saw the robot rolling through her Giant supermarket in Harrisburg, Pa., she said to herself, “That thing is a little weird.” Programmed to detect spills and debris in the aisles, the robot looked like an inkjet printer with a long neck. “It needed personality,” said Ms.