Category: Event

On December 6th, the Center held the third installment of our Loneliness and Well-being Seminar Series, with guest speaker Dr. Koichiro Shiba. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the health effects of social isolation and loneliness, suggesting that population-level efforts to promote social connectedness can be a promising approach to advance public health. However, this body of evidence is mostly based on the current causal inference paradigm, which typically focuses on estimating…

Continue reading “Promoting Social Connectedness for Health Equity: An Application of a New Analytical Framework”

The Evolution of Loneliness There is growing public concern about loneliness, as an increasing number of Americans report feeling lonely, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Loneliness is associated with negative mental and physical health ranging from depression and anxiety to heart attacks and dementia. It can be felt in our bodies, activating similar neural circuitry to physical pain. “If loneliness is so miserable, why has it persisted…

Continue reading “Loneliness and the Need for Belonging and Trust”

Even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, roughly half of American adults reported experiencing loneliness, according to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Published last May, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community” addresses the serious public health threat represented by loneliness in the US. Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Lead Scientific Editor of the Advisory, visited Harvard on October 11th…

Continue reading “From Loneliness to Social Connection: Lessons from research and a global pandemic”

From September 26th to October 1st, the Deer Park Monastery and the Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health held The Buddha the Scientist Retreat. The retreat was convened to promote conversation between science and Buddhism. Center Director Dr. K. “Vish” Viswanath served as the keynote speaker, sharing his insights on the latest in health and happiness research. Additionally, participants learned how to practice mindfulness, foster inclusive and holistic approaches to public health,…

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On Wednesday, September 20th from 1-1:50 PM in Kresge 202B, join us for “From Positive Minds to Positive Lives”. In this workshop we will conduct fun hands-on activities to facilitate positive thinking, thus promoting resilience and an enhanced sense of well-being, and allowing us to take on the fall semester with a positive mindset. These activities will be led by Soumya Mohanty, MPH ’24, a member of the Student Interest…

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On September 12th, the Center provided coordination support to the India Research Center’s Project SANCHAR for a webinar titled “Adolescent Well-Being and the Influence of Social Media in India.” The webinar was moderated by Director K. “Vish” Viswanath and featured insights from four distinguished panelists: Tshering Bhutia: Vice President, Preventive Health and Nutrition, Salaam Bombay Foundation Dr. Anjali Chhabria: Director, Mind Temple Institute of Behavioral Sciences and Psychiatrist Dr. Zoya…

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Film Screening & Panel Discussion w/ Drs. Stephanie Child, Emily Weinstein, & Jeffrey Hall

The 2020 Fall Social brought faculty, students, and researchers together with members of the public to discuss the Center’s research and ways to connect with our community in the upcoming year.