Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World

Content Warning: This section of the Study Guide discusses depression, anxiety, suicide, self-harm, addiction, violence, and other public health concerns.

Murthy’s book was originally published in April 2020, a month after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and nations implemented shutdowns to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Governments around the world closed businesses and schools, ordering everyone except essential service workers—including first responders, healthcare professionals, and food-supply workers—to stay home. These drastic measures prompted Murthy to add a brief Author’s Note to Together in March 2020, just before the book went to press. In it, Murthy describes COVID as “an invisible stalker” that “turned physical human contact into a potentially mortal threat” (7). Almost overnight, getting close to others became synonymous with danger. Public health officials urged people to distance themselves from others to save lives. The term “social distancing” became part of the lexicon. As Murthy notes, however, social distancing is a misnomer: What health officials were in fact recommending was physical distancing.

Together is about the importance of human connection, the impact of loneliness on physical and mental health, and the power of community. These issues have become more pressing since the outbreak of COVID. Even before 2020, societies faced unique challenges to human connection from rapidly developing technologies and busy lifestyles. Advances in transportation distanced people from their families, while developments in digital technology changed how people worked, studied, and socialized. COVID accelerated these trends. The shutdowns forced many businesses and schools to reassess their practices or face closing permanently. Technology was thrust to the fore, with workers, teachers, and students spending their days videoconferencing instead of interacting face-to-face. Online activity increased dramatically.

COVID policies deeply impacted American society. Studies show that social distancing led to a rise in individualism and eroded people’s sense of community (Sikali, K. “The Dangers of Social Distan6cing.” Journal of Community Psychology, 2020, vol. 48, no. 8, pp. 2435-38). Social distancing also increased depression, anxiety, stress, and intrusive thoughts (Spencer-Laitt, D., et al. “The Impact of COVID-19 Related Social Distancing on Mental Health Outcomes.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022, vol. 19, no. 11). Americans were not alone in this experience. In 2022, WHO found that COVID sparked a 25% increase in depression and anxiety worldwide, with young people and women being the worst hit (“COVID-19 Pandemic Triggers 25% Increase in Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Worldwide.” World Health Organization, 2 March 2022).

COVID lockdowns ended in the US in late August 2020, and in May 2023, the US government declared an end to the COVID pandemic. The social impact of the virus, however, continues to be felt across the globe. Many people still work remotely, leaving office buildings in major cities empty of tenants. In September 2023, New York City’s offices were under 41% of their pre-pandemic occupancy, and only 9% of office workers were at the office five days a week (Goldberg, Emma. “All That Empty Office Space Belongs to Someone.” The New York Times, 1 Sept. 2023). Although workers praise the flexibility and time-saving benefits of working from home, experts warn of the possible impact on mental health. Some workers struggle to separate work and home life, while others feel isolated and lonely. Maintaining team spirit and working collaboratively are also more difficult when employees work exclusively from home. Thus, many workers have adopted a hybrid model, spending part of their time at the office and the other part at home. Similarly, many schools have made online and hybrid classes a permanent part of the learning experience. Although the long-term effects of these changes remain unknown, Murthy’s emphasis on forming and maintaining high-quality social connections is timelier than ever.