The media personality and sex expert Ruth Westheimer is now New York State’s Honorary Loneliness Ambassador, a role that is the first of its kind in the country.
Appointed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday, Westheimer aims to help New Yorkers deal with social isolation, which is associated with physical and mental health problems such as cardiovascular disease, depression and early death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has described the prevalence of loneliness and isolation as a national epidemic among all ages.
“Hallelujah!” Westheimer said in a press release. “I am deeply honored and have promised the governor that I will work day and night to help New Yorkers feel less lonely.”
As New York state works to combat its loneliness epidemic, “some help from Honorary Ambassador Ruth Westheimer might be just what the doctor ordered,” Hochul said in a statement.
Westheimer, a psychosexual therapist and author of more than 37 books, rose to prominence on television and radio in the 1980s and 1990s. She left her native Germany at age 10, after losing her family in the Holocaust, and became a ubiquitous figure in the media. In 2022, the 95-year-old Bronx resident floated the idea of becoming an “ambassador” to advise on loneliness and isolation, according to Hochul’s office.
Under Hochul’s leadership, New York is working to create “age-friendly communities and build a more robust system of mental health care,” according to the press release.
“Last year, Governor Hochul signed an executive order to create the state’s first Master Plan on Aging to ensure older New Yorkers can live healthy, fulfilling lives as they age with dignity and independence.”
Greg Olsen, director of the New York State Office on Aging, said in a statement that he is looking forward “to working with Dr. Ruth Westheimer to raise awareness of initiatives already implemented at the New York State Office on Aging to combat loneliness and isolation by building on these successes at all ages.”
Hochul’s office cited a 2020 study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that found that more than a third of adults ages 45 and older experience loneliness, with nearly a quarter of adults ages 65 and older considered socially isolated. . The feeling of being alone defines loneliness, while social isolation is an objective lack of social connections.
More recent studies have also emphasized the importance of social connection, finding that a lack of certain types — such as never being visited by friends or family or feeling like you have someone to trust — is associated with a higher risk of early death from any cause. Social isolation has also been linked to cognitive decline, anxiety and weakened immunity.
Westheimer’s appointment is an outgrowth of several academics’ studies on social connectedness, where they argued that loneliness and social isolation are not just a personal issue for individuals to resolve on their own, but a problem that also necessitates support based on policies.
Olsen echoed Hochul’s comments, praising Thursday’s decision.
“For decades, the public has turned to Dr. Ruth Westheimer as a widely influential authority who has spoken to us eloquently and candidly about issues that are fundamental to who we are and how we interact with one another in a complex world,” Olsen said.
“I can think of no one better than Dr. Ruth Westheimer to connect with New Yorkers of all ages and help elevate the issue of social isolation, which is among our top public health challenges, yet a hidden challenge.”
Source: CNN Brasil
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