SARAYA: I AM SARAYA WINTERSMITH.

TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON."

INVESTIGATORS FIND NEGLECT IS TO BLAME FOR THE DEATH OF A PATIENT AT SHATTUCK HOSPITAL IN JAMAICA PLAIN.

WE WILL HEAR FROM THE VICTIM'’S SISTER AND JENIFER MCKIM.

THE U.S.

SURGEON GENERAL'’S WARNING OF A LONELINESS EPIDEMIC IN THIS COUNTRY AND IT IS AS DANGEROUS AS SMOKING SEVERAL CIGARETTES EVERY DAY.

HAYWOOD EARL WAS JUST 60 YEARS OLD WHEN HE DIED OF SKIN CANCER AT SHATTUCK HOSPITAL IN JAMAICA PLAIN IN 2020.

THREE YEARS EARLIER HE HAD SEEN A DERMATOLOGIST ABOUT A MOLE ON HIS NOSE SHE SUSPECTED WAS CANCEROUS.

HE HAD A TUMOR REMOVED FROM HIS NOSE BUT DID NOT HAPPEN FOR ANOTHER 11 MONTHS AT A DIFFERENT HOSPITAL.

THE CANCER SPREAD AND DIED THREE YEARS AFTER HE FIRST ENTERED SHATTUCK HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRIC UNIT.

HIS AVOIDABLE DEATH AND A SERIES OF MISSTEPS BY THE HOSPITAL WAS -- EARL HAD A HIGH CHANCE OF SURVIVAL AT THE TIME OF HIS INITIAL VISIT BUT INSTEAD THE HOSPITAL'’S FAILURE TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL TREATMENT CONSTITUTED NEGLECT AND CONTRIBUTED TO HIS PAINFUL, UNTIMELY DEATH.

EARL'’S CASE IS JUST ONE OF ONGOING ISSUES AT THE SHATTUCK HOSPITAL.

I AM JOINED BY THE JOURNALIST BEHIND THE REPORT, GBH NEWS DEPUTY INVESTIGATIVE EDITOR JENNIFER MCCANN AND HAYWOOD -- JENIFER MCKIM AND HAYWOOD EARL'’S SISTER, BEVERLY GOODRIDGE.

WHO WAS YOUR BROTHER AND HOW DID HE COME TO BE IN THE CARE OF THE SHATTUCK HOSPITAL?

BEVERLY: HAYWOOD, HE INITIALLY BECAME UNDER THE CARE OF SHATTUCK AROUND 2017 WHEN HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO MY OBJECTION.

ONCE HE WAS IN PATIENT AT THE SHATTUCK, EVERYTHING BASICALLY WENT DOWNHILL.

HE WOULD REACH A POINT OF BASELINE STABILIZATION AND THEN IF THE DOCTOR, THE PSYCHIATRIST HE WAS UNDER FELT HE NEEDED A CHANGE OF MEDICATION, THEY HAD TO GO UNDER THE COURT.

THEY HAD TO PROVE IT.

SOMETIMES IT WOULD TAKE MONTHS BEFORE THE DOCTOR HE WOULD LITERALLY GET THOSE CHANGES AND HAYWOOD WOULD GO DOWNHILL AGAIN.

HE WOULD START TO BECOME MORE AND MORE PSYCHOTIC.

HE WAS THERE FOR THREE YEARS.

DURING THAT TIME, I HAD TO BASICALLY FIGHT FOR EVERYTHING FOR HIM, EVEN FROM THE POINT OF THE INITIAL DOCTOR HE WAS UNDER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE PEOPLE PULLED HIM FROM UNDER HER CARE AND PUT HIM UNDER ANOTHER DOCTOR'’S CARE THAT WAS NOT INVESTED IN HAYWOOD GETTING BETTER.

HE WENT DOWNHILL THEN AND THEN THAT IS WHEN ELYSIAN POPPED UP ON HIS NOSE.

--WHEN A LESION POPPED UP ON HIS NOSE.

WE HAD TO FIGHT TO GET HIM TO BE PUT UNDER ANOTHER PSYCHIATRIST.

HE LITERALLY HAD THREE PSYCHIATRISTS.

SARAYA: JENIFER, I AM SO PROUD TO BE YOUR COLLEAGUE.

YOU SAID ONE CHARACTERIZATION WAS INCREDIBLY SHOCKING BECAUSE MR. EARL WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RECEIVING CARE.

WHAT COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THE FINDINGS AND WHAT DID THE OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE CASE HAVE TO SAY?

JENIFER: THE DISABILITY LAW CENTER STARTED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER BEVERLY ASKED FOR IT.

AS SHE TOLD ME IN THE STORY WE RAN THAT SOMETHING HAD GO WRONG.

SHE DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HER BELOVED BROTHER WOULD DIE FROM SKIN CANCER.

SHE WENT TO THE DISABILITY LAW CENTER, THEY LOOKED INTO IT AND THEY GOT AN EXPERT TO LOOK AT HIS CASE.

HE WOULD HAVE SURVIVED IF HE HAD GOTTEN SOME TIMELY TREATMENT.

THAT WAS THE THING.

TATUM PRICHARD, WHO I QUOTED, SAID IT WAS SO SHOCKING BECAUSE THERE HE WAS, IN A HOSPITAL, IN A PSYCHIATRIC WARD, YET NOBODY IN THE PLACE GOT HIM HELP OR TOLD BEVERLY WHAT WAS GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR BEFORE HE GOT HELP.

SARAYA: WHAT DID THE OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE CASE HAVE TO SAY, BOTH THE DOCTOR IN THE SPECIFIC CASE AND IN YOUR REPORT YOU TALK TO STATE OFFICIALS ALSO?

JENIFER: AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION THEY WENT TO THE STATE AND THE STATE BASICALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH WHAT HAPPENED.

THEY WOULD NOT ADMIT AS THE DISABILITY LAW CENTER ASSERTED THAT THERE WAS RACISM OR BIAS BECAUSE OF HIS MENTAL ILLNESS BUT THEY DID SAY THERE WERE PROBLEMS.

THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A TRAGIC DEATH.

THE DOCTOR WHO IS ALSO A DERMATOLOGIST AT THE FACILITY, SHE HAS BEEN WORKING THERE FOR A LONG TIME, I GOT HER ON THE TELEPHONE AND SHE SAID SHE HAD NEVER BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION AND SHE DID NOT BELIEVE SHE HAD DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

SARAYA: MS. GOODRICH, I HEARD THE CASE AND I THOUGHT THESE KIND OF CASES PLAY INTO PEOPLES THOUGHTS OF THE MEDICAL INSTITUTION.

BEVERLY: INITIALLY, I DID NOT HAVE ANY FAITH IN THE STATE CARE , PSYCHIATRIC CARE FOR HAYWOOD.

HAYWOOD RECEIVED THE MAJORITY OF CARE FROM BETH ISRAEL FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

THERE WAS A POINT WHERE THE MEDICAL PEOPLE AT BETH ISRAEL FELT HE WAS TOO MUCH AND PUT HIM UNDER THE ROGERS ACT, WOULD YOU BECOME UNDER THE STATE WORK AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.

ME HAVING FAITH IN MEDICAL CARE, I HAVE FAITH IN MEDICAL CARE THAT IS QUALITY, THAT CARES FOR ITS PATIENTS.

IT IS VERY SAD THAT YOU ARE IN A PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY AND THE NAME OF THAT FACILITY IS SHATTUCK.

MR. SHATTUCK'’S VISION WAS FOR QUALITY PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FOR THE PUBLIC.

IT IS SO IRONIC THAT THE SHATTUCK HOSPITAL IS AT THE POINT THAT IT IS NOW WHEN MONEY WAS GIVEN BY THIS MAN'’S ESTATE, MR. SHATTUCK, WHO HAD A VISION FOR QUALITY PUBLIC HEALTH.

SARAYA: JENIFER, TO MS. GOODRIDGE'’S POINT, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU LOOKED INTO CRITICAL THOUGHTS OF THE CARE AT THE SHATTUCK.

JENIFER: THIS IS ONE OF THE STATE HOSPITALS THAT CARES FOR SOME OF THE STATE'’S POOREST PATIENTS, INCLUDING PRISONERS, THE UNHOUSED AND PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES.

THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS FOR YEARS.

WE HEARD ABOUT AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON WHO HAD BEEN SUED 20 TIMES BY PRISONERS OVER ALLEGATIONS OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE.

THAT IS WHEN I STARTED LOOKING AT THIS CASE OF THE SHATTUCK HOSPITAL IN JAMAICA PLAIN AND HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE, PRISONERS ACTIVISTS AND FORMER DOCTORS WHO HAVE SPOKEN ON THE SHOW ABOUT THEIR CONCERN THAT THE HOSPITAL HAS PROBLEMS WITH OVERSIGHT AND HAS PUT PATIENTS AT RISKS.

SARAYA: A NUMBER OF SYSTEMIC ISSUES TO REPORT ABOUT.

MS. GOODRIDGE, ARE YOU LOOKING INTO ANY LAWSUITS?

BEVERLY: I HAVE LOOKED INTO IT.

IN -- HAYWOOD PASSED IN AUGUST OF 2020, I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED INTO LEGAL COUNSEL AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT WORTH THEM TO LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE OF THE BUREAUCRACY OF THAT STATE INSTITUTION AND WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT OUT, IT WOULD NOT BE WORTH IT FOR THEM.

ONE LAW FIRM DID GO TO THE POINT WHERE THEY OBTAINED AN OUT-OF-STATE ONCOLOGIST AND THAT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ONCOLOGIST SAID IT IS NOT WORTH IT.

THE BUREAUCRACY IS TOO MUCH TO EVEN DEAL WITH.

SARAYA: YOU STILL FEEL THIS WAY?

BEVERLY: I DO NOT.

I HAVE LEARNED THERE IS A YOUNG MAN FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS THAT WAS SEEN BY THAT SAME DERMATOLOGIST WHO SUPPOSEDLY EVALUATED MY BROTHER AND THAT PARENT IS SUING THE DOCTOR.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT MY BROTHER WAS SEEN BY A DERMATOLOGIST AT THE SHATTUCK.

SARAYA: THAT IS SOMETHING I LEARNED FROM YOUR REPORTING.

JENIFER: EXACTLY.

THAT WAS PART OF THE FRUSTRATION.

NOBODY TOLD HER.

HE WAS -- SHE WAS THERE MEETING WITH HER BROTHER AND NOBODY TOLD HER THAT HER BROTHER HAD BEEN SEEN BY A DERMATOLOGIST AND THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT CANCER.

SARAYA: ANOTHER THING I FOUND INTERESTING READING YOUR REPORTING IS THEY DO NOT REQUIRE BOARD CERTIFIED DOCTORS TO WORK WITH PATIENTS.

JENIFER: THAT WAS ANOTHER ISSUE, THIS ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON THAT IS THE FOCUS OF THESE LAWSUITS IS NOT A BOARD-CERTIFIED SURGEON.

THIS DERMATOLOGIST ALSO, I SPOKE TO HER, SHE SAID SHE IS BOARD QUALIFIED BUT NOT BOARD-CERTIFIED.

THE STATE SAID WE WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO BE BOARD-CERTIFIED BUT NOT HAVING IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU CANNOT BE A DOCTOR AND THERE ARE ISSUES WITH WORK SHORTAGES AND HIRING.

I SPOKE TO OTHER PEOPLE IN OTHER HOSPITALS AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HAVE DOCTORS WORK IN THEIR FACILITIES WITHOUT CERTIFICATION SO IT IS AN ISSUE.

SARAYA: MS. GOODRIDGE, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW, FOLKS LOOKING TO FIX THE SITUATION SO IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW?

BEVERLY: WHEN HAYWOOD WAS ALIVE, I VISITED HIM EVERY WEEK.

THEY HAD TEAM MEETINGS MONTHLY.

I LITERALLY WENT TO EVERY TEAM MEETING.

I WOULD PICK HIM UP ON THE WEEKENDS, GO TO GET A HAIRCUT, THE COMMUNITY BARBER.

SOMETIMES THE BARBER WOULD COME UP THERE TO SHAVE HIM AND CUT HIS HAIR.

I GOT TO MEET A LOT OF THOSE PATIENTS.

IN THE SUMMERTIME, THEY WOULD BE OUTSIDE.

THEY WOULD RUN UP TO ME, "YOU ARE HAYWOOD'’S SISTER?

I WISH I HAD SOMEONE TO LOOK AFTER ME LIKE HAYWOOD HAS SOMEONE TO LOOK AFTER HIM."

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAPPEN, THOSE PEOPLE, SOME OF THEM ARE GONE, I WOULD TALK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WHERE IS SO-AND-SO?

THEY ARE GONE, THEY PASSED AWAY.

MANY OF THE PATIENTS PASSED AWAY BEFORE HAYWOOD PASSED AWAY.

DID THEY HAVE ANYONE IN THEIR FAMILY THAT KNEW THEY PASSED AWAY OR EVEN KNOW THEY ARE IN THE SHATTUCK HOSPITAL?

SARAYA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

NEXT UP, THE U.S.

SURGEON GENERAL'’S WARNING OF A DANGEROUS HEALTH RISK THAT IS MONDAY HALF OF AMERICANS ARE AFFECTED BY AT ANY MOMENT.

IT IS NOT A VIRUS, BACTERIA OR INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

IT IS WHAT HE IS CALLING THE EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS.

SURGEON GENERAL VIVEK MURTHY WARNED LEVELS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION ARE GROWING IN THIS COUNTRY WITH AMERICANS SPENDING CLOSE TO ONE HOUR A DAY OR MORE BY THEMSELVES.

20 MINUTES VIEWER SOCIALIZING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

IF WE FAIL TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS, DR. MURTHY WRITES, WE WILL PAY A PRICE IN THE FORM OF OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

HE SAID INSTEAD OF COMING TOGETHER TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US, WE WILL FURTHER RETREAT TO OUR CORNERS ANGRY, SICK AND ALONE.

TO DISCUSS, I AM JOINED BY JILL SUTTIE, A PSYCHOLOGIST TO WRITE FOR GREATER GOOD MAGAZINE AND DR. EUGENE BERESIN FROM HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CLAY SCHOOL FOR YOUNG HEALTHY MINDS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION BECAUSE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE THINGS WE NEED IN ORDER TO HAVE GOOD HEALTH, WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THINKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH OR WHAT FULFILLING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS DOES FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH.

DR. SUTTIE, IT IS A FEELING OFFICIAL SAY IS DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY, LONELINESS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO IDENTIFY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE LANGUAGE OR INTROSPECTION FOR IT.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF FOLKS WATCHING AT HOME, HOW DO YOU DEFINE LONELINESS?

DR. SUTTIE: LONELINESS IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING ALONE, NECESSARILY.

IT IS ACTUALLY A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT KIND OF SOCIAL CONNECTION YOU WANT IN YOUR LIFE AND WHAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE.

THAT COULD BE NOT HAVING AS MANY CONNECTIONS BUT IT COULD ALSO MEAN JUST NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT CONNECTION WITH OTHER PEOPLE SO THAT YOU FEEL SUPPORTED, SAFE AND AS IF YOU BELONG IN THAT COMMUNITY.

SARAYA: DR. BERESIN, IT HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR PHYSICAL HEALTH, TOO.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS WE SEE LONELINESS MANIFEST IN OUR BODIES?

DR. BERESIN: IN ADULTS, THERE IS A 30% INCREASE IN HEART DISEASE.

A 30% INCREASE IN STROKE.

ABOUT A 60% INCREASE IN PREMATURE DEATH.

IN YOUNGER PEOPLE, IT CAN CAUSE INFLAMMATION AND PROBLEMS WITH THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.

THOSE ARE THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF LONELINESS AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY PSYCHIATRIC OR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AS WELL.

SARAYA: DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOME MORE ABOUT THOSE?

DR. BERESIN: SURE.

LONELINESS CAN CAUSE -- ESPECIALLY IN YOUNG PEOPLE -- AND IT SO HAPPENS THE LARGEST SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT IS LONELY ARE THE MILLENIALS AND GENZ Z'’S, AND GEN Z IS THE LARGEST.

IT HAS TYPICALLY BEEN THE ELDERLY.

THERE WERE REPORTS BY THE BBC IN 2018, 2019 AND 2020 THAT SHOWED THE GEN Z'’S HAD THE LARGEST PROPORTION OF LONELINESS AND IT WAS RELATED TO A TREND THAT THE SURGEON GENERAL REPORTED ABOUT A CRISIS IN MENTAL HEALTH BACK IN 2021 THAT SHOWED THAT ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR WERE ESCALATING AT ALARMING RATES.

SARAYA: MS. SUTTIE I WILL GO BACK TO YOU, IT IS A PRIVATE PAIN WE ARE BRINGING INTO PUBLIC VIEW WITH THIS REPORT FROM THE SURGEON GENERAL BUT IT IS NOT THE MOST EASY THING TO COME OUT AND SAY TO OTHERS.

IT MAKES YOU VULNERABLE.

PEOPLE GET AFRAID THAT THEY MIGHT LOOK NEEDY.

I WONDER HOW YOU MIGHT ENCOURAGE FOLKS THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH LONELINESS, HOW DO YOU ADVISE THEY START FIXING IT?

DR. SUTTIE: DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT MIGHT FEEL VERY VULNERABLE TO ADMIT THAT YOU ARE LONELY, AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM GENE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING IT SO YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN BEING LONELY.

IT HAS BECOME WORSE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND HOW MUCH WE HAD TO ISOLATE FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

ONE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT IS THAT WAY.

TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF COMPASSION FOR YOURSELF.

IT IS A PRETTY NORMAL EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE.

OF COURSE, IT IS OK TO BE LONELY OCCASIONALLY BUT WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO IS MAKE IT A CHRONIC THING.

REACHING OUT TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

ONE THING THAT MIGHT HELP IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESEARCH, PEOPLE OFTEN APPRECIATE IT MORE THAN YOU THINK THEY WILL.

THE ACTUALLY LIKE TO BE REACHED OUT TO.

CONTACTING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY CLOSE TO YOU IN SOME WAY , FAMILY OR FRIENDS, CAN HELP.

BUT YOU COULD ALSO JUST GO OUT IN PUBLIC SETTINGS WHERE YOU MIGHT RUN INTO OTHER PEOPLE AND HAVE SMALLER INTERACTIONS THAT MAYBE ARE NOT SO CONSEQUENTIAL BUT THEY WILL ALSO HELP WITH LONELINESS BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS, IT IS FEELING PART OF A GREATER WHOLE OR COMMUNITY THAT CAN HELP STAVE OFF LONELINESS.

I WAS GOING TO SAY OF COURSE VULNERABILITY OFTEN IS A GLUE IN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.

EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK YOU WILL LOOK NEEDY IT IS A WAY TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK YOU TRUST THEM AND CARE ABOUT THEM ENOUGH TO BE VULNERABLE WITH THEM.

SARAYA: AND YOU WROTE A PIECE FOR YOUR PUBLICATION THAT IDENTIFIES OTHER SUGGESTIONS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE UP WHEN THEY ARE FEELING LONELY.

WERE YOU INSPIRED TO WRITE THAT BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT YOURSELF SUFFERING?

DR. SUTTIE: THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

HONESTLY, I DO NOT SUFFER A LOT FROM CHRONIC LONELINESS.

I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT WAY BUT I HAVE BEEN STEEPED IN THIS RESEARCH FOR 17 YEARS NOW.

I HAVE BEEN WRITING ABOUT SOCIAL CONNECTION AND THE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO INCREASE SOCIAL CONNECTION.

I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW VIVEK MURTHY A FEW YEARS AGO.

SOME OF IT CAME FROM THINGS I HAD RESEARCHED IN THE PAST AND SOME OF IT HAD COME FROM MY MORE RECENT WORK, TALKING WITH HIM AND LOOKING AT THE RESEARCH.

THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS -- CERTAINLY, I USED THESE STRATEGIES MYSELF WHEN I AM FEELING A LITTLE BIT LONELY.

NOT TO SAY I HAVE NEVER BEEN LONELY.

SARAYA: I WANT TO PLAY A CLIP FOR BOTH OF YOU FROM ONE YOUNG LADY WHO DECLARED HER PRIVATE PAIN THAT RESONATED WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

>> THIS IS PROBABLY THE LONELIEST I HAVE EVER FELT IN MY LIFE.

I JUST WANT A GIRL DAY.

I WANT A GROUP OF GIRLS TO BE FRIENDS WITH.

I DON'’T KNOW.

THERE IS JUST SOMETHING SO -- LONELY ABOUT YOUR MID 20'’S.

I HAVE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE, I DO.

I DON'’T KNOW.

I SPEND A LOT OF WEEKENDS BY MYSELF JUST FINE, I JUST DON'’T LIKE ANYONE.

I DON'’T TRUST ANYONE.

SARAYA: DR. BERESIN, MS. SUTTIE, ONCE I GOT PAST MY OWN EMOTIONS WATCHING THAT, THE SURGEON GENERAL ANNOUNCED LONELINESS IS MOST PRONOUNCED AMONG TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 15 TO 24 WHO HAVE LESS CONTACT WITH THEIR FRIENDS BUT USE A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO FIND COMMUNITY.

I AM CURIOUS FOR BOTH OF YOU, WITH RESPECT TO SOCIAL MEDIA, ARE YOU LOOKING AT IT AS A TOOL FOR FURTHER CONNECTION TO ALLEVIATE LONELINESS?

IS IT SOMETHING THAT GETS IN THE WAY OF MORE DEEP AND MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS?

DR. BERESIN: THE SWORD CUTS BOTH WAYS.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, SOCIAL MEDIA WAS FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT.

MANY OF MY PATIENTS, YOUNG TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS USE DIGITAL MEDIA TO CONNECT TO EACH OTHER.

DESPITE THE FACT IT CAN BE USED FOR HARM -- CYBER BULLYING, THE IMAGES WE HAVE ON INSTAGRAM THAT HAVE MADE PEOPLE FEEL TERRIBLE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG WOMEN, ABOUT THEIR BODIES -- SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE USED FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE.

IT IS INTERESTING, IN THE BBC STUDY WHERE THE EXAMINED YOUNGER PEOPLE, TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS, EVERYBODY KIND OF ASSUMED THAT SOCIAL MEDIA WAS THE CULPRIT.

THEY FOUND THE FOLKS WHO WERE LONELY VERSUS THOSE WHO WERE NOT REPORTING LONELINESS USE JUST AS MUCH SOCIAL MEDIA.

I THINK WE HAVE TO SEE SOCIAL MEDIA AS A POSSIBLE ALLY.

IT CAN BE EXTRAORDINARILY VALUABLE FOR SHY, ANXIOUS KIDS, KIDS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM, HIGH FUNCTIONING ONCE NEED TO CONNECT AROUND CERTAIN ACTIVITIES, GROUPS.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS A GODSEND.

THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WE ARE ALL DIGITAL HOSTAGES AND EXCESSIVE USE AND MISUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE FEAR OF MISSING OUT AND GETTING SLEEP DEPRIVATION AND HAVING BLUE SCREENS AT NIGHT CERTAINLY DO NOT HELP.

MY ADVICE TO YOUNGER PEOPLE AND TO THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS IS WE ALL NEED TO BE MORE MEDIA LITERATE AND UNDERSTAND THE USES AND MISUSES OF THE APPS ON OUR PHONES AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE ARE SPENDING THERE.

YOU CANNOT BEAT FACE-TO-FACE TIME.

IN MOST CASES, PUT THE PHONE DOWN AND JUST HAVE CONVERSATIONS, THAT IS THE BEST ADVICE.

SARAYA: JILL SUTTIE, ARE YOU ALSO VIEWING SOCIAL MEDIA AS A POTENTIAL ALLY?

MS. SUTTIE: I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER.

SOCIAL MEDIA CUTS BOTH WAYS.

IT CAN BE AN ASSET, ESPECIALLY FOR TEENS, YOUNG PEOPLE OR ANYONE WHO IS IN A GROUP WHO THEY DO NOT FEEL THEY LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF THEM, MAYBE THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR WHATEVER.

SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE A WAY OF FEELING LIKE YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF WHERE YOU LIVE THAT YOU CAN CONNECT WITH, THEY CAN UNDERSTAND YOU AND OFFER SUPPORT AND THAT SENSE OF BELONGING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

SO, YEAH, IT CAN BE REALLY HELPFUL.

BUT, THAT SAID, THERE ARE THE DANGERS OF BULLYING AND SOCIAL COMPARISON, EVERYONE ELSE LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE SO HAPPY ONLINE AND HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

YOU MIGHT YOU DID ON YOURSELF AND ASSUME THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU INSTEAD OF RECOGNIZING THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT ABOUT, NECESSARILY, OPENING UP AND BEING VULNERABLE.

THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN PERSON CONTACT AND MORE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN BE YOURSELF.

ALSO, OF COURSE, DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT IS ALL WE HAD IN MOST CASES SO IT IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

NOW THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET OUT AGAIN, IT IS FOR THE GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE IN PERSON.

I AM NOT ALONE IN HAVING THAT FEELING OF RELIEF AND BEING ABLE TO WALK THE STREETS AND RUN INTO NEIGHBORS AND TALK TO PEOPLE IN SHOPS AND SEE MY FRIENDS AND GIVE THEM A HUG.

PHYSICAL TOUCH IS ALSO SO GREAT FOR FEELING CONNECTED TO OTHER PEOPLE AND WE COULD NOT DO THAT MUCH DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SARAYA: IT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN WONDERFUL BEING OUT OF QUARANTINE.

VERY QUICKLY FROM ONE OR BOTH OF YOU, AT WHAT POINT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SOMEONE REACH OUT TO A PROFESSIONAL FOR HELP SORTING OUT THERE LONELINESS?

DR. BERESIN: I CAN BEGIN.

IF THE LONELINESS IS COUPLED IN PARTICULAR WITH EITHER ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION, WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, IF ONE FEELS SO MISERABLE THAT THEY CANNOT FUNCTION DAILY, THE CDC'’S DATA ON ADOLESCENT ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE, WHICH HAS SKYROCKETED BETWEEN 2011 AND 2021, THE SURGEON GENERAL'’S PREVIOUS REPORT WAS ON THE CRISIS OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, THOSE KIDS THAT CANNOT FUNCTION NORMALLY, THAT HAVE TROUBLE GETTING TO SCHOOL AND CANNOT THINK CLEARLY, WHO ACTUALLY BECOME CLINICALLY DEPRESSED OR ANXIOUS, REALLY SHOULD GET A PSYCHOLOGICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN THE LIVES OF KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS.

I THINK THAT GETTING SOME PROFESSIONAL OPINION IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

SARAYA: WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

DR. BERESIN, JILL SUTTIE, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU REALLY NEED TO ADD?

MS. SUTTIE: I JUST WROTE ABOUT A STUDY ABOUT DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, THEY HAD ONE GROUP PRACTICE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS TO ANYONE IN THEIR LIFE, STRANGERS, FRIENDS, ANYTHING, A COUPLE OF DAYS A WEEK FOR FIVE WEEKS.

IT HAD AS MUCH EFFECT ON DEPRESSIVE AND ANXIOUS SYMPTOMS AS DOING COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, WHICH IS THE STANDARD CARE.

IT ALSO INCREASED SOCIAL CONNECTION.

THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO GET AT.

BEING KIND, PRACTICING ACT OF KINDNESS TO OTHERS CAN TAKE YOU OUT OF THAT FEELING OF FOCUSING ON YOUR OWN LONELINESS AND SOMETIMES INCREASED SOCIAL CONNECTION.

SARAYA: AN IMPORTANT REMINDER TO BE KIND.

DR. BERESIN: THERE IS ONE MORE THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD -- SARAYA: VERY QUICKLY.

DR. BERESIN: OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE OVERSCHEDULED AND UNDER THE PRESSURE COOKER AND NOT COLLABORATIVE AND NOT WORKING COLLECTIVELY.

IN ORDER -- THE PRESSURES FOR ACADEMICS AND PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND BEING ON SPORT TEAMS, THEY ARE WORKING 24/7 AND THEY DO NOT HAVE TIME TO HANG OUT.

THEY DO NOT HAVE TIME BECAUSE THEY ARE SO PRESSURED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DR. MURTHY AND OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE HAVE STRUCTURED THE TIME IN THE U.S.

IN PARTICULAR AROUND OVER SCHEDULING AND OVERBURDENING OUR KIDS AND DERAILING THEM AND ACTUALLY FOSTERING LONELINESS BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY HAD THE DESIRE, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE UNDER THE PRESSURE COOKER TO ACHIEVE.

SARAYA: ANOTHER EXCELLENT POINT.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

JILL SUTTIE, DR. BERESIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I AM SARAYA WINTERSMITH.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪ ♪