The Deacon

Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the current surgeon general of the United States, has issued some important advisories in recent years on major mental and physical health concerns facing Americans.

In the spring of 2023, he sounded the alarm on what he termed the “epidemic of loneliness.” explaining how prolonged loneliness as a health risk is comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, adding that “loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by 26 percent and raise the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression and dementia.” More than once, he has helped raise awareness concerning the negative impact of social media on young people, going so far as to call for warning labels on social media outlets.

In the summer of 2024, he penned a major editorial that was published in The New York Times, “Parents Are at Their Wits’ End. We Can Do Better,” which shined a major spotlight on the high stress levels being experienced by parents across the country. He detailed how a combination of issues including economic challenges, media exposure, safety concerns and jam-packed schedules are all adding to the increased worry list, and, therefore, stress levels are skyrocketing and impacting both the mental and physical health of moms and dads across the country.

While each report contained worthwhile information, as well as several practical steps to address the variety of issues outlined, it was disappointing that Murthy barely mentions, and sometimes buries the lead as we say in the news business, when it comes to the faith factor, even though there is a large body of evidence showing that God, as in having an active faith life, is good for us — actually, very good for us.

On Page 22 of his report, “Parents Under Pressure: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents,” which focuses on how “caregivers need care, too,” faith or being involved in what he referred to as “faith organizations” is listed among several ways to help parents foster a “culture of connections,” enabling them to share their feelings and be in environments that may also offer support.

The report adds, “Fourth, we must foster a culture of connection among parents to combat loneliness and isolation. Parenting is made all the more difficult when we feel lonely — as more than half of parents do. Creating opportunities for parents and caregivers to come together, share experiences and ideas, and support each other can strengthen parental well-being. Simply put, caregivers need care, too. Through our individual actions and with the support of community groups, schools, faith organizations, employers, health and social service systems, and policymakers, we can create opportunities for parents to come together and build communities of mutual care and connection.”

Certainly, as those of us in ministry know, and do our best to explain, having a strong relationship with Jesus and our Catholic faith, is not going to instantly or magically solve all our problems and take away sufferings. We are, God willing, helping our brothers and sisters realize that it is a matter of spiritual life or death. However, there is also a strong correlation, many studies have found, between faith and physical and mental health. For example, the Journal of Behavior Medicine found spiritual meditation to be calming, having a positive effect on one’s nervous system and helping a person be less emotional in their response to negative circumstances. That same study showed that those practicing prayer or spiritual meditation regularly experienced less anxiety and had a more positive approach to life.

And there is also what I refer to as the “beyond me, myself and I factor.” Research shows that those involved in church-related activities, including attending Mass or services regularly, see themselves as part of something bigger than just their world. It’s not all about them. They are part of a community that needs, welcomes and embraces individual gifts. As St. Francis reminds us, “It is in the giving that we receive.” Faith helps us die to self and to begin again as we help others do the same.

Faith shouldn’t just be “a” factor when addressing the many ills plaguing men, women and children. Since we were created by God, in his image and likeness, it needs to be front and center. While it may be a hard sell to convince our post-Christian society of its importance, we could point to the mentions by the surgeon general and other medical experts as a very strong point of reference to show why God is good all the time, and especially for our overall health.

TERESA TOMEO is the host of “Catholic Connection,” produced by Ave Maria Radio, and the author of “Beyond Sunday: Becoming a 24/7 Catholic” (OSV, $14.95). She is married to Deacon Dom Pastore, an ordained deacon in the Archdiocese of Detroit.