To help people live healthier and more fulfilling lives, Dr. Vivek Hallagere Murthy, the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States, shared a ‘parting prescription’ in which he emphasized building a community. Parting Prescription addresses a “fundamental—and urgent—question” with which Dr. Murthy grapples: What are the root causes of the pain and unhappiness so many people are experiencing? He believes the answer lies in rebuilding the community.
NEW: Today, I’m releasing my parting prescription for America: My final thoughts on completing my time as U.S. Surgeon General. It addresses a fundamental and urgent question I’ve been wrestling with: What are the root causes of the pain and unhappiness so many people are experiencing? pic.twitter.com/9jPYI6UDex
– Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) 7 January 2025
In his prescription, Dr. Murthy recalls how his father never felt “empty” until he left his village in India. “It was a remarkable statement from a man who grew up without running water or electricity, and whose family barely had enough money to put food on the table every night. Yet what little money they had, “He accomplished that in the community.” He has written.
From sharing meals to visiting a friend who has lost a loved one to taking care of others, Dr. Murthy’s father learned the power of community while growing up and made sure he practiced it and passed it on to his two children .
“Through caring for patients over the years – which included everything from house calls to hospital visits to late-night phone conversations when someone fell ill – he reminded us that when we make a difference in the lives of others ‘Life is when you find your purpose in contributing’ It’s always easier said than done, but it’s extremely fulfilling,” he wrote, thanking his parents for giving him the formula for contentment and well-being.
The three core elements of a community – relationships, service and purpose – are a trinity of fulfillment. He said, while ‘love’ is a basic quality.
“They (key elements) can also significantly impact health outcomes, including premature death, heart disease, depression and anxiety,” he said.
Together they create an ecosystem for meaning and belonging.
Dr. Murthy made it clear that we do not want to be catered to by any one community. Most of us need a few different communities to feel whole, and these communities can grow and overlap.
“Half of young people and a third of adults struggle with loneliness; formal and informal services remain low; and worryingly large numbers of young adults say they have little or no meaning or purpose in their lives,” he said. Wrote on.
To address this, Dr. Murthy suggests rebuilding community and reshaping our lives around relationships, service, and purpose. He also recommends rethinking what defines success and a good life and building your life based on that.
He signed off, writing, “Community is a force for health and fulfillment. It is the antidote to division and despair. We need it more than ever.”
