Outgoing Surgeon General Warns of ‘Spiritual Crisis’ in Last Message to US [Video]

In his farewell message to the nation, outgoing Surgeon General Vivek Murthy emphasized the importance of “building community” and reiterated warnings about the detrimental effects of loneliness.

On Tuesday, Murthy released his Parting Prescription for America, a 32-page document in which the physician reflected on his two-term tenure as the nation’s leading public health spokesperson, and what he has learned about the struggles facing individuals and the U.S.

“Through my work over two terms as Surgeon General, I saw that the answer to ‘What’s missing?’ is simple, yet profound: community,” Murthy wrote. “The loss of community has become one of the defining challenges of our time. In response, we need a fundamental shift in how we build and prioritize community.”

This “fracturing of community,” Murthy wrote, “is driving a deeper spiritual crisis that threatens our fundamental well-being.”

Why It Matters

As well as supporting the nation’s response to COVID-19, Murthy’s tenure as surgeon general has been characterized by a focus on combatting loneliness and …