Amy Kennedy Hosts President Obama’s Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, as Part of “Connecting South Jersey Community” Facebook Live Series

The event is available for viewing here.

Brigantine, NJ – Earlier tonight, Amy Kennedy hosted President Obama’s Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, on her ongoing Connecting South Jersey Community virtual Facebook live series.  Dr. Murthy recently wrote a book, Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, about the importance of human connection and the potential impact of loneliness on our health.

Kennedy and Dr. Murthy discussed the impact of COVID-19 on our community, the importance of mental health, why loneliness should be a public health concern, especially during the current pandemic, and how to stay connected during this unprecedented time. They also answered questions from members of the community. The event was part of an ongoing series, hosted by Amy Kennedy, congressional candidate for New Jersey’s second district, that connects national and local experts with our community here in South Jersey.

Amy Kennedy said, “It was such an honor and a pleasure to be able to connect President Obama’s Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, with people in South Jersey.  We had an informative and interesting discussion about the many ways COVID-19 is impacting our community and the importance of mental health. I know so many people here in NJ2 and across the country are looking for national leaders who can offer reliable and useful information about the coronavirus pandemic, and Dr. Murthy did just that.  His book, Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, about why loneliness should be a public health concern, is a reminder to all of us to find ways to stay connected especially with the people in our lives who are alone or who struggle with mental health.”

Dr. Vivek Murthy said, “This is an extraordinarily difficult moment as so many lives have been disrupted and, in many cases, displaced. Preserving human connection in a time where we must remain physically distant will help us alleviate the mental health consequences that will come as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In these unique circumstances, I am honored to join Amy Kennedy, who is committed to combating the mental health crisis in New Jersey and around the country.  I know Amy shares my belief that loneliness should be a public health issue and that now, more than ever, we need to find ways to make human connection a priority.”