Latest news with #socialconnection
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Charlene Andersson Champions Emotional Safety in Classrooms as Key to Student Success
Veteran educator calls for nationwide focus on social connection and confidence-building in education reform LOS ANGELES, CA / / June 2, 2025 / With over 28 years of experience in California public schools, award-winning educator and certified educational therapist Charlene Andersson is using her platform to advocate for a nationwide shift in how schools define-and measure-success. Her message: emotional safety and student connection are not just nice-to-haves; they are critical to academic growth. "Success doesn't start with a test score," said Andersson. "It starts when a student feels safe enough to take a risk, speak up, or ask for help. That's where real learning begins." Andersson, who received the Japanese International Educators Award in 2005 and held the highest standardized test scores in her district for a decade, attributes her results to student-centered strategies. One such example is her use of "looping," where students stayed with her for up to three years by parent request. "Students who feel seen and understood are more likely to engage deeply with learning," Andersson said. "That's not theory-that's decades of experience." The numbers support her point. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, students who report strong relationships with teachers are 32% more likely to feel confident in their abilities, and a study by CASEL found that school programs integrating social-emotional learning see an 11% gain in academic achievement. Andersson recalls one student who was socially isolated but fascinated by the Mars Rover. She turned his passion into a collaborative class project that led to a provisional patent and a letter of encouragement from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. "He went from isolated to celebrated," she said. "That kind of transformation doesn't come from a worksheet. It comes from creating a classroom culture where every student belongs." Andersson is calling on schools and education policymakers to prioritize social-emotional learning (SEL), build teacher training around relationship-building strategies, and give teachers time and autonomy to support students holistically. "We need to stop treating SEL like an add-on," she urged. "It's the foundation. Without it, we're just checking boxes." In addition to her classroom work, Andersson has created arts education programs for children at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, authored three children's books, and served on the California Board for Gifted Students. About Charlene Andersson Charlene Andersson is a professional educator and certified educational therapist based in Los Angeles, California. With nearly three decades in public education, she is known for her student-first teaching philosophy, her work with gifted and special needs students, and her advocacy for compassionate, connected classrooms. Today, she continues to mentor fellow educators, speak at conferences, and push for systems that value empathy as much as academics. "We ask kids to meet our standards," she said. "But first, we have to meet their needs." Media Contact Charlene Anderssoninfo@ SOURCE: Charlene Andersson View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
The Independent
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Loneliness as deadly as obesity and smoking pack a day, top health expert warns
Elvis Presley sang it in Heartbreak Hotel and now a top voice in American health says the classic song's chorus has become an alarming reality: Americans are feeling so lonely, they could die. Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. Surgeon General, is warning that the negative health impacts of chronic loneliness are comparable to some of the nation's biggest killers. 'The overall mortality increase that can be related to social disconnection is comparable to the mortality impact of smoking and obesity,' he told NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday. 'That's how powerful and how important loneliness is.' He cautioned that loneliness and isolation can raise people's risk for dangerous health conditions Murthy astonishingly said he found that chronic loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 'Well, it turns out that our connection with one another, this is not just a nice thing to have, it's biologically an imperative for us,' he said. 'It's something we need for survival, just like we need food and water.' Raising awareness about the loneliness and isolation epidemic was a large part of his work during the Biden administration, releasing an advisory to call attention to the issue in 2023. The guidance included a six-pronged plan of action, including to enact pro-connection policies, reform digital environments, conduct more related research, and cultivate a culture of connection. Murthy said then that the consequences of poor social connection with others include a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease, a 32 percent increased risk of stroke, a 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia for older adults, and a 60 percent increased risk of premature death. It is also connected to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Those were only some of the physical repercussions. In addition, the risk of depression among people who report feeling lonely is more than twice that of those who rarely or never feel lonely. Loneliness and social isolation in childhood also increase the risk of depression and anxiety. In the U.S., about one in three adults report feeling lonely and around one in four report not having social and emotional support, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Certain people and groups are more at-risk, including low-income adults, young adults, older adults, adults living alone, immigrants, people with a mental or physical challenge, people who are victims of violence or abuse, people facing the loss of a love one or unemployment, and people in the LGBTQIA+ community. Murthy said that kids struggle the most. 'We tend to think, 'Oh. Kids are on social media. That's great because they're connected to one another.' But, no, we have to recognize there's a difference between the connections you have online and the connections you have in person,' Murthy said. As more relationships have shifted online, more kids are struggling with an 'intense' culture of comparison, are trying to be people they're not, and don't have as many in-person friendships as we need. 'One student [who] I talked to at a college, as I was traveling the country, he said to me ... 'How are we supposed to connect with one another when it's no longer the culture for people to talk to each other?'' Murthy recalled. 'And, I saw that on college campuses,' he said. A national survey from Harvard University previously found that 73 percent of those surveyed selected technology as contributing to loneliness in the country. 'Parents do have good reason to be worried right now,' Murthy added.
Forbes
13-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Brunch Isn't Just A Meal—It's A Way Back To Each Other
For many American diners, brunch is part celebration, part indulgence—bottomless mimosas, Bloody Mary bars, stylish small plates, and rooftop views. It's a social ritual, equal parts escape and performance. But brunch can also be something quieter—mismatched plates. Toast shared over a kitchen counter. A slow pour of coffee while the light shifts across the floor. It doesn't always ask to be seen. It just asks to matter. Brunch holds both energies at once: the spectacle and the softness, the communal and the personal. And in a time when many are craving reconnection on their own terms, it's that quieter version that's starting to feel essential. That shift—from brunch as performance to brunch as presence—has reshaped the way we host, cook, and show up for one another. And it's not just a vibe shift—it's backed by behavioral science. Research from Oxford University shows that people who eat together more often feel happier and more connected to their communities. A 2023 study in the journal Appetite found that social isolation meaningfully alters eating behavior, often deepening emotional strain—while shared meals offer a protective effect. A 2021 NIH report confirms what many of us feel instinctively: regular, in-person connection strengthens health, reduces stress, and improves longevity. It's why initiatives like Project Gather encourage small, no-pressure meals among friends and neighbors. And why former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, now working through academic and public platforms, continues to championhuman connection as critical health infrastructure. We don't need banquets or matching chairs. We just need each other. And maybe a decent cup of coffee. Cookbook author and content creator Carolina Gelen recently hosted a strawberry-themed brunch shoot—a cozy, pink-swirled moment she built around a collaboration with Starbucks for National Brunch Month. She developed a strawberry latte using the brand's new iced double espresso capsule for Nespresso, pairing it with strawberry milk, homemade syrup, and leftover strawberry butter from the shoot. But the real magic didn't happen on camera. 'After the shoot, I had so much leftover—lattes, desserts, butter—so I invited friends over,' she said. 'Everyone stirred their own drinks and we just sat around, eating and talking. It was even better than the filming.' That small moment—a casual post-shoot gathering—became its own ritual. And it reflects something much larger: brunch not as spectacle but as connective tissue. An opportunity to share something you made without pressure. To let people in without pretense. 'Sharing it just amplifies it,' Gelen told me. 'Even though I had fun creating the recipe, I really think you get to experience it at an exponential level when you're with other people.' Brunch at home can feel like quiet rebellion against the emotional labor of traditional hosting. The pressure to create a curated, Instagram-ready table is giving way to something slower. Today, hosting is not about being the perfect host; it ismore about being a present one. It's not about proving you can do it all. It's about asking for help, letting things be imperfect, and still making space for people to come together. Gelen's approach reflects that shift. 'I think making the experience enjoyable for the host is very important,' she told me. 'The last thing you want is to clock in for a 10-hour brunch shift.' Instead, she leans into a kind of joyful delegation. Let a guest refill the ice. Let someone else take dishes off the table. Turn the coffee bar into a DIY station. These aren't shortcuts—they're acts of care. They make space for everyone, including the host, to actually enjoy the moment. According to KPMG's 2025 restaurant outlook, food and labor costs remain top concerns for industry leaders, and dine-in traffic has largely leveled off. In that context, new product innovation has less to do with novelty and more to do with meeting the moment. It reflects how many are reframing brunch—not as an event, but as a ritual. Not just a trend but a tether. That's echoed in recent data from Tastewise, which shows that online mentions of brunch are down nearly 29% year-over-year. Perhaps the performative brunch is giving way to something quieter: snackable, plant-based plates and at-home hosting that centers comfort over curation. In a world of rising prices and content fatigue, the rituals that remain are the ones that make us feel more like ourselves. Maybe that's what brunch really is in 2025. Not an event. Not a trend. But a lifeline. A low-stakes, high-comfort ritual that reminds us how to gather again—even if we're just starting with ourselves.
The National
12-05-2025
- Health
- The National
Overcoming expat loneliness: Experts' guide to forming bonds in new countries
The debilitating effects of loneliness are back in the spotlight after Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg revealed his company plans to create personalised 'AI friends' to tackle human isolation. With 2025 as the UAE's Year of Community, unity and connectivity are at the forefront of the national focus, highlighting many different aspects of life in the emirates and how we connect and relate to one another. Earlier this year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, wrote on X that the initiative 'highlights our priorities for the future: strengthening social bonds and fostering unity across society'. Scientists continue to delve deeper into the impact on loneliness and social anthropologists warn about the role that social media and AI play not only in deepening the divides between us, but in making us increasingly isolated from one another. A recent study by Emory University in the US compared loneliness rates of people aged 50 to 90 in 29 countries. It found that while it is often the elderly who describe themselves as feeling the most alone, the US had the second highest prevalence of lonely middle-aged adults, topped only by the Netherlands. 'There is a general perception that people get lonelier as they age, but the opposite is actually true in the US, where middle-aged people are lonelier than older generations,' said researcher and professor Dr Robin Richardson. 'Loneliness is an emotional state that feels like being persistently isolated and disconnected from others, and even feeling empty,' says psychologist Judy Seoud from Thrive Wellbeing. 'You don't have to be physically alone to experience loneliness; you can still struggle to feel seen, and even in a crowd. 'It can show up in subtle ways such as low energy, emotionally withdrawing and not engaging with friends and family. There can be an increase in negative self-image and self-talk, such as 'No one likes me' and 'Why would anyone even want to be my friend?'' Like many emotional responses, loneliness can present in a number of psychological and physiological ways, with many similar to conditions and disorders such as depression, stress or fatigue. Hiba Salem, a psychologist at Sage Clinics, adds: 'Persistent feelings of emptiness, emotional flatness, and even somatic symptoms like disturbed sleep or chronic tiredness can reflect an unmet need for meaningful human connection. 'Recognising loneliness means attuning to the subtle cues of emotional hunger – not how many people are around you, but how deeply seen, safe, and supported you feel in their presence.' Former radio presenter Simone Heng's experiences of making connections in a new country led her to tackle the subject in her book Let's Talk About Loneliness. Heng lived in the UAE from 2008 to 2013, presenting the midmorning Lowdown show on Virgin Radio. She says the expat and immigrant version of loneliness can be different from feeling alone or isolated in your home country, where you still share commonalities and experiences and have existing connections. 'I think it can feel even worse as an expat to feel lonely sometimes, because people are so connectively promiscuous in the expat community and so urgent in their need to connect because of the finite amount of time they are staying there,' she says. 'If you can be in a place where people are so social, particularly in the UAE, and still find yourself without friendship, self-loathing can kick in.' She adds: 'Expat loneliness carries a unique psychological texture. It's not just about missing people, but mourning the loss of familiarity, identity anchors and emotional continuity. This type of loneliness often includes grief and disorientation.' For Heng, oversharing was a personal sign that she was feeling lonely and trying to remedy the situation by going too deep, too soon. 'This was a massive one for me,' she says. 'The brain goes: 'I'm under threat, I don't know when I'm next going to see someone to talk to' and so you bombard people with your whole life story. The irony is that when we meet new people, because we as a species are wired to be sceptical of newcomers in case that person is a threat, by doing this, you actually repel the connection you are trying to make.' Moving to the UAE can be a big step, but being new to a country can be the very thing that strengthens bonds with people you meet because many will be feeling similarly, says Heng. 'The experience of being an expat, of being transient, is something you can connect with people about,' she says. 'Transience is a great surface-level thing to connect on. 'These are people who share that common experience which is one of the biggest hurdles to connection.' The MyDubai Communities' digital platform, launched in April by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, aims to remove barriers to connection by putting the forging of 'community bonds' at its heart. The platform helps users discover communities that share their passions and interests and to join groups across the UAE, facilitating communication and new friendships. 'Feeling lonely is nothing to be ashamed of, which is why having a community platform like MyDubai is an amazing initiative,' says Seoud. 'We're all looking for connection and ways to find people that share common interests with us, and this platform makes it easier than ever to do just that.' Building meaningful relationships in a new place is, says Heng, is about filtering out 'superfluous connection' and seeking those who share your values and interests. 'If you feel lacking in community or feeling lonely amongst the people you're with, this is to do with values alignment,' she says. 'The salve to loneliness is intimate connections, not followers on social media or micro connections such as with people you meet at events. 'When making friends as an adult, be compassionate. Use your commonalities to connect and highlight how you're alike, rather than how you are different.'
CNET
11-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
7 Friendship Hacks to Make New Connections as an Adult
Moving to new places in adulthood can be isolating, especially if you are having these new experiences by yourself. You don't have your chosen people around you to help you navigate the changes, which can feel lonely. Add in work and life obligations, and finding the time to dedicate to making friends can feel impossible -- but it doesn't have to be. You don't need a huge group of friends to feel fulfilled, but most people need at least a few. Companionship has tangible health benefits you'll want to take advantage of. Making friends doesn't have to be a struggle, especially if you try these fool-proof tricks to put yourself out there and meet new people. Why is friendship important? We're social creatures. We require human connection to be happy. It's more than that; friendship isn't just important because being alone is worse. Friends promote better overall health. They give you someone to talk to andoffer emotional support that helps you cope with things you're experiencing. Whether financial strain or mental health struggles, having friends to talk to about can validate your feelings and may even empower you to make changes. Friendship offers tangible short- and long-term benefits for your mental and physical health that you can't get by yourself. Benefits of friendship include but are not limited to: Improving your physical health: Research suggests that having friends may lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and compromised immune function. Research suggests that having friends may lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and compromised immune function. Reducing loneliness and feelings of social isolation : Close friendships will keep you from feeling isolated and reduce the impact of loneliness. : Close friendships will keep you from feeling isolated and reduce the impact of loneliness. Boosting your self-esteem : Just like not having many friends can drain your confidence, making new friends boosts your self-worth. Why? Because you have new people to support and celebrate your wins. : Just like not having many friends can drain your confidence, making new friends boosts your self-worth. Why? Because you have new people to support and celebrate your wins. Helping you cope with stress: Studies have shown that people with more social capital or close friends tend to be better at handling stress. You may also experience fewer spikes in stress in the first place. It can be hard to make friends as an adult You know how your mom stops making doctor appointments when you grow up? She also stops making sure you keep up with your relationships. As an adult, you have to make an effort. With things like social media to passively keep up with people, sometimes it's hard to secure good, dependable friends. Liking and commenting on "friends'" pictures gives you the illusion of closeness without actually feeling it, which can leave you frustrated. Friends are worth making, but it's not always a walk in the park. Everyone knows the fear that goes along with trying to make friends as an adult -- a fear of being misunderstood or rejected. It's understandable, but giving in to those feelings may be what's sabotaging you in the first place. Research has found that those who assume they will be rejected come off as cold and withdrawn, which pushes people away.7 techniques to help you make friends as an adult 1. Make sure you know what you want Defining what you want is where everyone has to start. Before you do anything else, think about what you want out of the relationships you're trying to make. How much time and effort are you willing to put into finding a friendship and maintaining it after? What type of friend are you looking for? Remember, friendship is a two-way street. Once you know what you expect and need from a friend, ensure you reciprocate that with others. 2. Put yourself out there There's no sugarcoating this: Making friends will require a lot of effort on your part. You can't just click your heels and expect friends to appear. Putting yourself out there means pushing outside of your comfort zone. A great place to start is your community. Attend events at your local brewery or networking events. It helps you put down roots and connect with the people around you. If you're someone (like me) who loves their comfort zone and struggles to get out of it, don't forget to set boundaries for yourself. You don't want to push yourself so hard that you retreat out of necessity. Building relationships takes time and can be draining while waiting for positive reinforcement from others. Try marking your calendar with the days you'll make your social outings. On those days, you can go to new places, introduce yourself and put yourself out there. On the other days, you can commit to recharging and taking time to care for yourself. 3. Try online groups I mentioned how social media can sometimes backfire regarding friendship -- it gives you the image of it but not the real thing. That's not to say that you cannot create meaningful friendships online without ever meeting your friends in real life. Many people prefer online connections because it doesn't have the pressure of going out and meeting in person. It's a great choice for people who have anxiety or are introverted. Using online shared interest groups like gaming servers or support groups gives you the biggest opportunity to meet different types of people. Doing it from the comfort of your own home isn't half bad, either. 4. Throw a party This one isn't for everyone, but if you're a social butterfly looking for others like you, consider throwing a party. It doesn't have to be a fancy soiree; watching a sporting event or hosting a trivia night counts too. Whatever it is, the idea is to host a social event on your terms -- you choose when it is, dictate the hours and pick your guest list. If you cringed at the thought of inviting a bunch of strangers over in the name of friendship, don't worry. You can use your social gathering as a sort of networking event. Invite the friends you already have and tell them to bring one new person with them when they come. That way, you have the comfort of the people you know and meet new people who have already been vetted. It's like getting set up but for friendship.5. Get on the apps (but in a friendship way) Picking friends is hard. Sometimes, you need an algorithm to help you find them. Similar to dating apps, there are apps specifically designed to meet and become friends with people. All you have to do is make a profile by adding a few pictures and a bio, and then you're ready to start swiping. On many apps, you can filter by age, gender and interests. Popular options are Bumble BFF, WINK, Nextdoor and Meetup. 6. Start volunteering or join a club Let's talk about the concept of situational friends. Essentially, it refers to the friends you make simply because you're in the same place, like work or the gym. Frequently, situational friends stay just that -- the person you chat with when you see each other, and then you go your separate ways once you leave. There is plenty of value in this type of friendship. If you're seeking something longer-lasting, you can take advantage of situational friendships by volunteering or joining a club. Introduce yourself, and establish a continued line of communication with them. Ask them if they will be at the next event, or give them a follow on social media. 7. Stay with it Making friends as an adult is a process. You should expect peaks and valleys of feedback. Take time to keep your self-worth from getting tied up with your friendship search. Indulge in self-care by treating yourself to things you enjoy -- like bubble baths or little treats. Don't forget to take care of yourself. Take a walk if you're feeling overwhelmed, or try meditation to get in touch with your feelings.
