2026 San Antonio Preventative Health Conference - Friday, April 24, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj-JeuJjmGg

[09:03] Hello.
[09:06] Happy Sabbath or sorry, welcome everyone.
[09:10] How is everyone doing today?
[09:12] I am the host for this event this weekend.
[09:15] I'm AJ.
[09:18] If you need anything, please let me know.
[09:20] Let's cover a few things first and foremost.
[09:22] First of all, I'm going to pass the mic to Dr. Jim Bonson for a moment.
[09:24] He's going to make an announcement in Spanish.
[09:39] Okay, there we go.
[09:42] I'm not sure exactly what he said, but something about if you want translation, you go sit over there or something like that and they can translate for you.
[09:48] I think that's what it is.
[09:51] All right.
[09:53] So, let's cover a few things first.
[09:56] Number one, most people need to know where are the bathrooms.
[09:59] Well, the bathrooms are right out of these doors.
[09:59] Um, men's is on the left.
[10:03] These doors. Um, men's is on the left. Women's is on the right.
[10:06] Women's is on the right. Don't if you go past the other set of doors, you've gone too far.
[10:08] Okay. With that being said, we are delaying a little bit just because the lights at 6004 and Bandaraa were out.
[10:14] And so if there's a few people trying to still get here, we want to make sure that they are here on time, but we have a great evening.
[10:23] We're not going to keep you too late because we want you back here in the morning.
[10:26] So, first and foremost, what I'd like to know, what I'd like to know, and I I think I might have know the answer already because I met a wonderful lady earlier, MJ.
[10:34] She and I are cousins. MJ AJ. Yes.
[10:37] And so this question, she might win. I would like to know who came, drove, not counting the people that flew in.
[10:49] Not counting the people that flew in, but people who drove here tonight that live in the San Antonio area, who came the furthest?
[10:54] That's what I would like to know. Who came the furthest?
[10:56] MJ's coming from Canyon Lake. Anyone
[11:03] MJ's coming from Canyon Lake.
[11:03] Anyone further than Canyon Lake?
[11:06] That's about a good 45 minutes or so.
[11:06] Hour.
[11:06] Hour.
[11:10] Stone Oak.
[11:10] Well, we don't count traffic.
[11:12] We're counting actual miles.
[11:12] Actual miles.
[11:16] So, Canyon Lake wins.
[11:16] Thank you.
[11:18] Very good.
[11:18] Let's go the opposite.
[11:20] I want to know who lives the closest.
[11:23] Anybody live less than a mile away?
[11:26] Do you live less than a mile away?
[11:29] Very, very close.
[11:30] Where where do you live?
[11:32] How far away?
[11:32] Three minutes.
[11:35] Very good.
[11:35] Okay.
[11:35] Very nice.
[11:39] Very nice.
[11:39] I live somewhere in the middle of Canyon Lake in three minutes.
[11:41] I'm in there somewhere.
[11:41] Somewhere.
[11:43] Well, we want to thank everyone for coming out tonight.
[11:46] And before we get started, I want to let you speak to a couple of people that you'll hear from later this week.
[11:53] But before I do that, I would like to know from a couple of hands.
[11:56] And my wonderful wife over here, my wonderful Vanna White is going to run a mic to you
[12:04] Vanna White is going to run a mic to you so we can all hear.
[12:06] I would like to know why you came tonight.
[12:10] And before that's a two-part question.
[12:12] How did you hear about the conference?
[12:14] And number two, why you decided to come to the conference?
[12:18] I'd leave just three volunteers.
[12:21] Just three.
[12:23] Okay.
[12:25] And if if not, then I'm going to call on some people because I'm a teacher by trade and I just, you know, have a hand right here.
[12:27] Hand right here.
[12:29] So I don't mind calling people out.
[12:33] Hello.
[12:35] Yes.
[12:37] Tell us your name, please, as well.
[12:43] Okay.
[12:48] All right.
[12:50] You're a man who keeps his promises.
[12:52] Very good.
[12:55] Thank you very much.
[12:57] What type of uh doctor are you?
[12:59] Cardiologist.
[13:02] Okay.
[13:05] Well, welcome.
[13:07] Welcome.
[13:09] Welcome.
[13:11] Welcome.
[13:13] Okay.
[13:15] I need two more volunteers.
[13:17] Two more.
[13:19] I'm going to go with people over the age of 20.
[13:04] to go with people over the age of 20 though for right now.
[13:06] I'll go to the younger group in a second.
[13:08] Okay.
[13:08] All right.
[13:10] So, let's give me two more volunteers.
[13:14] Two more adult volunteers.
[13:14] The kids are very excited.
[13:15] Thank you for bringing them.
[13:17] By the way, we have a wonderful kids program planned for tomorrow.
[13:20] All right.
[13:20] We have a hand over here.
[13:23] Mike is coming to you.
[13:23] Mike is coming to you.
[13:26] All right.
[13:26] Your name, how did you hear about us, and why you decided to come?
[13:35] Welcome, Rosa.
[13:41] She's interested in health.
[13:43] Very good.
[13:43] How did she hear about us?
[13:49] Oh, very good.
[13:49] Very good.
[13:52] Her son.
[13:52] Very good.
[13:54] I invited a few people from work.
[13:55] Not sure if they're going to come or not, but we'll see.
[13:57] All right.
[13:57] One more adult, then we'll get to a child.
[13:58] All right.
[13:58] One more adult.
[14:01] Come on.
[14:01] Don't be shy.
[14:02] Don't be shy.
[14:02] I see some people I'm going to call on in a second if Oh,
[14:04] there we have a hand right here in the
[14:05] there we have a hand right here in the back.
[14:07] We're here in the back with a back.
[14:07] We're here in the back with a beautiful baby.
[14:09] beautiful baby.
[14:11] You take the She takes the mic, you can steal the baby.
[14:21] Okay.
[14:31] How did you hear about us? my friend.
[14:35] How did you hear about us? my friend.
[14:35] Okay.
[14:43] Very good. What was your name?
[14:45] Very good. What was your name?
[14:46] Francine.
[14:46] Francine.
[14:46] Okay.
[14:48] And now we had a couple of kids that we're going to get to real fast.
[14:49] of kids that we're going to get to real fast.
[14:52] You had your hand raised. Did you have your hand raised?
[14:54] Yes. Tell me. What's your name?
[14:55] What's your name?
[14:57] Oh, she doesn't. She changed her mind.
[15:00] Changed her mind. Okay. I think I had a a a hand back here.
[15:03] Yes. All right. Tell us. Yes.
[15:03] You shy now or no? Yes.
[15:06] Yes. You shy now or no?
[15:08] Okay. Tell us your name and why you came.
[15:11] Um my name is Noel.
[15:11] I came because my dad is in charge of the security because my mom probably is doing something here.
[15:20] I have no idea. And um because I might be interested in health.
[15:23] All right. Maybe have a future doctor on our hands.
[15:26] Very good. Very good. Doctor, will you come come up for a moment, please?
[15:29] And Dr. Ben, will you come up for a moment, please, as well?
[15:31] Thank you, Vanna. I appreciate it.
[15:32] Can I borrow that mic, please?
[15:37] Dr. Ben and I are old friends, but this is our first time meeting.
[15:39] I'm AJ.
[15:41] Hi, AJ. I'm Brian.
[15:42] Here's a mic for you.
[15:42] Thank you, Brian.
[15:45] You are one of our presenters for this weekend, correct?
[15:46] That's right.
[15:49] All right. And when are you presenting?
[15:50] Tomorrow morning.
[15:52] Tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning.
[15:53] So, look on if you look on the back, you have a a guide.
[15:56] Okay. That will tell you the schedule and you will see what he's talking about and when he is presenting.
[16:01] and I'm going to get back to you in a second.
[16:03] Okay. Dr. Ben and I are old friends.
[16:05] This is his third year here.
[16:05] We're we're are grateful that he's
[16:07] Here. We're we're are grateful that he's here.
[16:07] Dr. Ben, when are you presenting?
[16:09] Here. Dr. Ben, when are you presenting?
[16:10] Tomorrow.
[16:10] Tomorrow morning as well.
[16:12] So, on the back, you'll be able to see.
[16:14] So, I'm going to get out of the way for a moment and I'm going to let these two gentlemen talk.
[16:17] And what I'd like them to talk about are a couple of things.
[16:20] You just got back from Oh, there's another doctor here as well.
[16:23] I'm sorry.
[16:25] Oh, don't. It's okay.
[16:26] We're gonna get you, too.
[16:27] Tell us your name.
[16:28] Yes.
[16:30] My name is Mimra and I get that promotion to either pastor or doctor all of the time.
[16:33] Okay.
[16:33] I'm a licensed professional counselor.
[16:35] Licensed professional.
[16:36] When are you presenting?
[16:37] Uh Saturday afternoon on social emotional aspects.
[16:41] Very good.
[16:42] So you'll find him on the back as well.
[16:44] And so what I'd like to do at this time is take a few moments and I would like the doctors to tell us what they've been up to recently.
[16:48] Okay?
[16:50] What kind of what what's been going on in their lives and kind of some things.
[16:51] And I know you just have some cool things just just happened that you just got back.
[16:53] So, we're going to hear about all of that as well.
[16:55] In fact, we'll start with you actually.
[16:56] Okay.
[16:57] Well, I'm Brian Schwarz.
[16:59] I'm a cardiologist in uh Ohio.
[17:01] Work at Ketaring Health.
[17:04] And I think the cool
[17:09] Ketaring Health.
[17:11] And I think the cool thing you guys are referring to is once a year I go to Africa, part of a ministry called Hearts for Mission International that is starting an open heart surgery and an interventional procedure program in the country of Malawi.
[17:24] which is the second second poorest country in Africa and uh we go for two weeks at a time.
[17:30] We just got back having done um 18 heart surgeries about seven or eight pacemakers and I was there doing some valoplasties.
[17:42] How awesome how awesome is that?
[17:46] Malawi Malawi.
[17:47] I've actually till I get this one working for me.
[17:49] I've actually been to Africa too.
[17:51] Would you like to guess uh which country I've been to?
[17:55] Kenya.
[17:57] Not been to Kenya yet.
[17:59] This is my beautiful wife right here.
[18:01] And which of the two which of the two of us would you think is from Africa?
[18:04] It's okay.
[18:05] You don't have to answer that.
[18:08] It's her.
[18:08] My wife is actually from Africa.
[18:08] Not me.
[18:08] She's from Zimbabwe.
[18:12] Africa.
[18:12] Not me.
[18:12] She's from Zimbabwe.
[18:12] Actually, she he's been there, too.
[18:14] Very good.
[18:14] Very good.
[18:15] All right.
[18:15] Dr. Ben, you go right ahead.
[18:19] Testing.
[18:19] I am in medicine.
[18:25] I work with One of the biggest hospitals in the east coast and for me what has been going on this past few years is being part of this community and I'm so excited to be back here and that is why this particular conference this conference especially this particular weekend is so vital because I see We're going to get there by God's grace or the day but we don't want to but I know that we all going to get there eventually and I see a lot of the population that I see here and I also see real life situations whereby some of the choices that they make is
[19:14] the choices that they make is culminating in the kind of the health.
[19:17] culminating in the kind of the health challenges that challenges that.
[19:20] so if anybody is here it is so critical that we can actually some of the things.
[19:23] that we can actually some of the things right in the back than trying to catch up later on.
[19:29] A lot of times I've come to know that most of the challenges that we have is more of like management.
[19:34] We are not actually curing as we think we think we are.
[19:41] So but if we can prevent then this is the platform.
[19:43] Unfortunately, the insurance companies would not pay us for us to prevent because that's money out of their pocket.
[19:50] But I think that one of the best things was actually supposed to help us to prevent some of the things is not actually supposed to be curated.
[19:59] So it is so important and this particular subject that we talking about this weekend is one of the things that has gone under the radar.
[20:09] without leaving and for me personally getting to know about it and about it was like a holy.
[20:14] about it and about it was like a holy grail to me.
[20:17] It was a moment for me and grail to me.
[20:17] It was a moment for me and I'm so excited to to share the
[20:19] I'm so excited to to share the perspective and some of the things that
[20:21] perspective and some of the things that I've experienced and the real life
[20:23] I've experienced and the real life things that I've seen right on the
[20:24] things that I've seen right on the ground is so you have to you have to
[20:28] ground is so you have to you have to experience that in real life and people
[20:30] experience that in real life and people talking about the struggles.
[20:32] Let me give it like just two days ago I saw a
[20:35] it like just two days ago I saw a patient
[20:39] but she's now living by herself
[20:43] but she's now living by herself having to do
[20:47] And she had to stick in her fridge
[20:51] And she had to stick in her fridge about two months supply of food.
[20:55] about two months supply of food.
[20:55] And you can guess since we talking about
[20:57] And you can guess since we talking about nutrition, you can just guess what kind
[20:59] nutrition, you can just guess what kind of food she can get in the
[21:07] meal prep for her during the entire time
[21:10] meal prep for her during the entire time that she has to go to home.
[21:10] Just imagine
[21:15] that she has to go to home.
[21:19] Just imagine and just imagine medication and just imagine medication like just going around navigating a home.
[21:23] like just going around navigating a home and for us those of us who live in the east coast you know that the structures are building that all the bedrooms are up there.
[21:25] and for us those of us who live in the east coast you know that the structures are building that all the bedrooms are up there.
[21:27] east coast you know that the structures are building that all the bedrooms are up there.
[21:29] are building that all the bedrooms are up there.
[21:29] up there.
[21:32] Yeah. And then there's nothing like here which is so different and sometimes I'm asking the architectural part what is happening in the east coast but just imagine you having to be at home by yourself and there's nobody to help you even that connection.
[21:34] which is so different and sometimes I'm asking the architectural part what is happening in the east coast but just imagine you having to be at home by yourself and there's nobody to help you even that connection.
[21:36] asking the architectural part what is happening in the east coast but just imagine you having to be at home by yourself and there's nobody to help you even that connection.
[21:38] happening in the east coast but just imagine you having to be at home by yourself and there's nobody to help you even that connection.
[21:40] imagine you having to be at home by yourself and there's nobody to help you even that connection.
[21:43] yourself and there's nobody to help you even that connection.
[21:49] that connection.
[21:51] that connection.
[21:53] so that has been the experience that I've had and I think that this is why anywhere this is the place to If you're not here tonight, tomorrow and this weekend, please be here.
[21:57] I've had and I think that this is why anywhere this is the place to If you're not here tonight, tomorrow and this weekend, please be here.
[21:59] anywhere this is the place to If you're not here tonight, tomorrow and this weekend, please be here.
[22:02] If you're not here tonight, tomorrow and this weekend, please be here.
[22:04] this weekend, please be here. After that, we can go to the theater.
[22:09] Hi. Yes, my name is Niss Mada. I'm a licensed professional counselor. Like I was mentioning, I'm coming from uh Arizona, so I really enjoyed seeing the.
[22:11] Hi. Yes, my name is Niss Mada. I'm a licensed professional counselor. Like I was mentioning, I'm coming from uh Arizona, so I really enjoyed seeing the.
[22:13] licensed professional counselor. Like I was mentioning, I'm coming from uh Arizona, so I really enjoyed seeing the.
[22:15] was mentioning, I'm coming from uh Arizona, so I really enjoyed seeing the.
[22:17] Arizona, so I really enjoyed seeing the overcast clouds.
[22:20] Uh it's just sun like overcast clouds.
[22:22] Uh it's just sun like 362 days of the year.
[22:25] Uh so just seeing clouds was really really a a treat for me.
[22:30] Um, and I am the director of teleaalth services for an intensive outpatient program out there in the state of Arizona.
[22:35] And some of the things I've been doing professionally is kind of trying to reach the patients that you were talking about, right?
[22:41] So, um, the company that work has h 8 10 clinics, but we identified referrals that declined because they couldn't get to us,
[22:52] >> right?
[22:55] And so for a variety of reasons uh people are not always to get the treatment that they need.
[22:59] Obviously preventative is quite helpful.
[23:01] And what we do with the type of work we emphasize is we look at neuroplasticity.
[23:06] Right?
[23:08] And this is just a fancy word that we can adapt.
[23:10] Right?
[23:12] Wherever we are at this moment this is not your destiny.
[23:15] You have the capacity to change.
[23:17] A lot of people try to overcome chronic pain addictions and they haven't been
[23:19] addictions and they haven't been successful.
[23:22] And one of the things I'll be talking about is that missing ingredient of not just the medication, not just the counseling, but the social connections and how that is oftentimes a missing ingredient uh for more successful treatment outcomes to when it comes to these complex situations.
[23:38] >> Thank you guys so so very much. I'll take those microphones from you. We look forward to hearing all of this tomorrow.
[23:45] So if you are watching us online, please come tomorrow. If you are here sitting today, please come tomorrow and plan on coming on Sunday.
[23:56] Right before we begin, I'd like to invite our senior pastor, Pastor Vatitali Prolinsky up to welcome you and to say a prayer for us.
[24:04] >> Good evening everyone. I think I had a chance to welcome most of you at the door or as we were handing things out, but once again, welcome to the Sydney Hills 7 Church.
[24:14] We are happy to have this opportunity to spend this weekend together to learn some good information.
[24:20] together to learn some good information.
[24:22] Uh our slogan your health drives in community is not just a slogan.
[24:24] It's a reality of who we are as individuals.
[24:26] We're not just social, we are communal.
[24:29] So if you are a health professional or student of health or just somebody looking for hope, growth, development, I hope you find your place here and it will be a wonderful opportunity for us not just to learn information but actually create meaningful connections and relationships and and to see how our life can become better.
[24:46] So because we're Christian, we would like to begin by thanking God and and speaking with him.
[24:50] So bow your heads with me please as we as we pray.
[24:53] Thank you, heavenly father, for this opportunity for us to be together, to know you, and to grow together.
[24:57] I thank you for bringing people from near and far.
[24:58] And I pray that this night and this weekend will be a chance to grow, to connect, and to learn.
[25:00] Above all, may our lives be a testimony and praise to you.
[25:02] In Jesus name we pray.
[25:05] Amen.
[25:08] Thank you so very much.
[25:09] And without further ado, I know you didn't come to hear all the other stuff that we just
[25:21] hear all the other stuff that we just did, but we shared anyway.
[25:23] We are now did, but we shared anyway.
[25:23] We are now ready for our first presentation and our second presentation by Dr. Prince Oier.
[25:29] And so we'll welcome him please.
[25:48] Can you hear me?
[26:11] to the beginning.
[26:14] to the beginning.
[26:16] Well, thank you so much for the opportunity that we have to be here together to to talk about health and to
[26:22] together to to talk about health and to not just talk about medicine, not just not just talk about medicine, not just talk about, you know, procedures, but to talk about, you know, procedures, but to talk about how we can live talk about how we can live to talk about how we can live in a to talk about how we can live in a healthy way.
[26:40] Okay. Can you hear me well?
[26:43] Okay. Can you hear me well? Okay, thank you so much. So,
[26:48] so thank you so much for being here again and I would like to sh to um share these few moments with you to really kind of set a foundation for what we are going to talk about the the rest of the week.
[27:02] I mean the rest of the weekend. And I am excited because I've learned so much through these presentations and I hope that you also get um um get some information not just for yourself but for your kids, for your family and for your patients, for those physicians uh here as well. Thank you so much for coming. You know, I just started like
[27:24] coming.
[27:24] You know, I just started like you know at Methodist Hospital.
[27:26] I shared the information and I he said he was going to come but I really wasn't sure.
[27:29] he was going to come but thank you so much for being here.
[27:31] So let's talk about the epidemiology um the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation.
[27:41] So let's start with this picture.
[27:43] And it's very funny because I heard AJ and some of the crew back there having a banter about something.
[27:52] So I was l I was listening because I wanted to u because I had something similar to say.
[27:54] So let me ask you who is healthier?
[27:57] Who's brave enough to answer?
[27:59] Who's healthier?
[28:03] I'm talking about the people on not not you but okay which which of these people is healthier.
[28:09] B is healthier okay.
[28:12] who else three.
[28:16] oh we need oh I thought it was why is it two three and four something happened.
[28:19] okay so need I you need more information.
[28:25] okay so need I you need more information okay I agree with you we need more
[28:28] okay I agree with you we need more information
[28:30] information Because health is not just the physique.
[28:35] Because health is not just the physique.
[28:35] It is more than that.
[28:38] It is more than that.
[28:38] It is what is going into your body.
[28:42] going into your body.
[28:42] Nutrition.
[28:42] It is physical activity, exercise.
[28:45] physical activity, exercise.
[28:45] Those two we really know a lot about.
[28:48] Well, not all all the time, but at least we know a
[28:50] all all the time, but at least we know a little bit more about that.
[28:52] The things that we don't think about or sometimes
[28:54] that we don't think about or sometimes go in a back burner is mental health,
[28:58] go in a back burner is mental health, social connection,
[29:00] social connection, purpose and rest and recreation.
[29:05] purpose and rest and recreation.
[29:05] Now all these are important but in the as physicians we don't get training about
[29:08] these are important but in the as physicians we don't get training about
[29:11] these in in medical school.
[29:11] We talk a little about nutrition, a little about
[29:15] little about nutrition, a little about exercise, not enough even of those but
[29:16] exercise, not enough even of those but the rest we really don't talk about it.
[29:19] the rest we really don't talk about it.
[29:21] maybe some mental health as well.
[29:21] So if that is our training, how do you expect
[29:23] maybe some mental health as well.
[29:23] So if that is our training, how do you expect
[29:27] that is our training, how do you expect us to really help you?
[29:30] So that is why a lot of times you see your doctor and we we are not saying all these things
[29:34] because but this is an opportunity for us to learn about all these components
[29:39] and today we are delving into one important component which is social connection
[29:46] and we are talking about it because it is a very important it's a very important um part of it
[29:53] and social connection is a fundamental need just like we breathe we need air we extract ract oxygen from it.
[30:01] We get we get carbon dioxide out out of it.
[30:05] Just like we need food, we need shelter.
[30:09] Social connection is a fundamental um you know importance to to us.
[30:15] Our ability to rely on one another is crucial to our well-being and I'll go as well to say survival
[30:24] as well. C can you imagine in the past
[30:28] As well.
[30:30] Can you imagine in the past when our forefathers didn't have all the technology and they had to fend for themselves?
[30:36] Do you think those who were in isolation, they did well?
[30:39] They probably didn't, so that is an important thing.
[30:41] And so our brains and and and you don't see very well, but all these are backed by by data.
[30:46] And the data is um over there and I would be happy to share all the slides with with anyone who asks.
[30:56] Our brains expect proximity, proximity to one another.
[30:58] Another.
[31:00] Our brains expect proximity to one another.
[31:03] So the health, the health and societal impact of isolation and loneliness is a critical public health issue that we have getting so much evidence that we now have to address.
[31:16] And nothing brought it to the front than COVID 19.
[31:19] COVID 19.
[31:21] COVID 19 came, you know, the data was already showing that that social decline.
[31:29] already showing that that social decline was happening.
[31:32] The data was there but the data is hidden in medical journals.
[31:35] but people were still meeting people were still doing other things and so it was not very clear that this was happening.
[31:41] and then COVID 19 hit and what did we what did we uh see and what did the researchers see.
[31:50] People who were connected to each other had strong social relationships, strong friendships, strong marriages, they thrived.
[31:57] people who were alone, people who were in dysfunctional relationships, even marriages.
[32:03] What did we see?
[32:06] There was a lot of anxiety.
[32:08] There was a lot of depressions.
[32:11] There was a lot of divorce.
[32:13] Not just because they now started thinking that they wanted divorce, but because they had not ne there wasn't a healthy relationship already.
[32:20] And now they had time to be in the front of each other.
[32:24] And these unhealthy relationships now blossomed and it caused a lot more problems.
[32:30] problems.
[32:33] And that is why in 2023 the surgeon general and the you know um all these public health um professionals sat down and said guys we have an epidemic.
[32:44] Now I'm I studied epidemiology and so I don't use the word epidemiology um u epidemic like on a surface level.
[32:54] When we say something is epidemic, it means that it's not one, it is not two incidents, it is not a few people.
[33:02] It means that on a national scale on and sometimes even on a global scale, this issue is alarming.
[33:10] And that is when you call something an epidemic.
[33:12] And it's it's so important that the surgeon general decided that this is something that we need to put you know get professionals on and issue a paper that everybody physician non-f physician can really read and understand because we have something that is important that is
[33:31] have something that is important that is not recognized.
[33:33] not recognized.
[33:37] So let's let's talk about what exactly is social connection because we have we are we are going to be using some of these words and so it's important to understand exactly what it is.
[33:46] So social connection encompasses not just interaction but relationships, the role people play in that relationship and the sense of connection individuals and communities or societies may experience.
[34:06] Now I'm going to make it a little easier.
[34:11] If you can see here, let's break it down.
[34:12] what everything I've said forget you can forget about what exactly is does it mean what is exactly are the components of this number one is that there's a structure number two there's a function and there's quality what exactly is is the function social connection involves the number of connections you have
[34:33] number of connections you have involves are you by yourself or you have
[34:36] involves are you by yourself or you have only one person to relate to or do you
[34:39] only one person to relate to or do you have yourself let's say maybe spouse,
[34:42] have yourself let's say maybe spouse, maybe kids, maybe colleagues at work
[34:44] maybe kids, maybe colleagues at work that you can actually connect with or
[34:47] that you can actually connect with or maybe your neighbors you can actually
[34:49] maybe your neighbors you can actually connect with your neighbors.
[34:51] connect with your neighbors. So that is the number and then the second one when
[34:55] the number and then the second one when it come to structure is the frequency of
[34:58] it come to structure is the frequency of the interactions.
[35:00] the interactions. So if you have a friend and you talk
[35:01] So if you have a friend and you talk once a year that's really not not saying
[35:05] once a year that's really not not saying you are not friends but that is not
[35:07] you are not friends but that is not really social connection. So the
[35:10] really social connection. So the structure is important but then the
[35:13] structure is important but then the function is even more even more
[35:15] function is even more even more important. What part do they play in
[35:18] important. What part do they play in your life? If you had an there's a
[35:21] your life? If you had an there's a traffic light that is broken here. If
[35:23] traffic light that is broken here. If you had an accident and would you have
[35:26] you had an accident and would you have somebody that you can call and you can
[35:29] somebody that you can call and you can reliably say that if they were not doing
[35:31] reliably say that if they were not doing anything they would just drop everything
[35:33] anything they would just drop everything and come.
[35:36] and come. Basically what function does that person
[35:38] Basically what function does that person play in your life?
[35:40] If you were going through an issue, is this somebody that
[35:44] can you can call?
[35:46] Because that's important part of social connection.
[35:48] Not just the number of people, but what role
[35:51] are they playing on in your life?
[35:53] And then the third one is the quality of it.
[35:58] The quality of the relationship.
[36:00] Now I'm going to use an extreme example.
[36:02] A gang can have the first two.
[36:06] Does it make sense?
[36:10] A gang can have the first two.
[36:13] They can have a strong connection.
[36:15] They talk to each other.
[36:18] They they will call each other and come and help them right away.
[36:21] But what what is the quality of that
[36:24] relationship?
[36:27] That's important.
[36:31] Let me bring it home. One of the basic social connections that
[36:34] One of the basic social connections that we have is marriage.
[36:36] What is the quality of that marriage?
[36:43] Is it a safe place?
[36:45] Is it a toxic relationship where it is actually not helping you but actually causing problems?
[36:55] Or you belong to a social organ, social club, or you belong to some ethnic group and for some reason it is not having a positive impact in you.
[37:10] So we need when we talk about social connection, you need to look at all three of them.
[37:14] The structure, how many, how frequent you are interacting.
[37:18] Number two, what role they are playing in your life.
[37:24] But exactly number three, what is the quality of that relationship?
[37:26] Does that make sense?
[37:28] Now, what social connection is?
[37:31] Thumbs up. Good job. Okay.
[37:36] Okay.
[37:38] So now everything we have said, if you have you don't have one or all three, you have social disconnection.
[37:42] You have social disconnection and there are really two types of social disconnection.
[37:47] Two main ways we have social disconnection.
[37:50] Number one is we have social isolation and we have loneliness.
[37:58] Now a lot of times people ask me what exactly is what is the difference?
[38:01] It's not the same.
[38:03] You don't want either of them but they are not the they are not the same.
[38:07] And it's really important to differentiate them because each of them have different outcomes.
[38:12] So let's talk first about social isolation.
[38:15] So social isolation is basically objectively how having few social relationships, social roles, group memberships and infrequent social interactions.
[38:31] So so this one you can actually count you can really quantify very well.
[38:36] Let's say, so let me use an example.
[38:39] Let's say, so let me use an example.
[38:42] Let's say you were living alone and you really don't have access to other people.
[38:47] Basically, the number of people you encounter is is limited.
[38:51] Number two, you move to a new country.
[38:54] Myself, I came here.
[38:57] I didn't know a lot of people.
[39:00] That is a barrier.
[39:03] And many of us can can um can attest to that.
[39:05] During that time there's a lot of stress as new immigrants.
[39:08] Remote work and working from home long term.
[39:12] Just by the structure of it you you are limited in how many interactions that you have.
[39:22] So that that's social um some ways you can have social isolation.
[39:24] Chronic illness or being in hospital for a long time.
[39:29] You are going to be alone.
[39:31] You you are alone unless you are taking some steps for that.
[39:33] And then when you have lose a spouse or a close companion that is a
[39:40] spouse or a close companion that is a one a number that you have missed and so.
[39:43] one a number that you have missed and so if you can agree with me this goes to.
[39:47] if you can agree with me this goes to the structure of social uh social.
[39:50] the structure of social uh social connection it talks more about the.
[39:52] connection it talks more about the structure of social connection number.
[39:55] structure of social connection number two.
[39:57] two now what this doesn't maybe this doesn't.
[40:00] now what this doesn't maybe this doesn't um catch is the social roles and group memberships.
[40:05] um catch is the social roles and group memberships.
[40:09] Let me use an example.
[40:09] You come to a church like this.
[40:13] It's large.
[40:13] Sometimes you may be you may be over there and you you are never really like in like involved because of the general structure being there.
[40:16] Sometimes you may be you may be over there and you you are never really like in like involved because of the general structure being there.
[40:19] in like involved because of the general structure being there.
[40:22] your role of maybe just being in and out can limit the the the quality of the interaction as well.
[40:26] maybe just being in and out can limit the the the quality of the interaction as well.
[40:29] They can limit how you interact not just in the in the number of people you meet but also in the quality.
[40:33] as well.
[40:33] They can limit how you interact not just in the in the number of people you meet but also in the quality.
[40:36] not just in the in the number of people you meet but also in the quality.
[40:39] So
[40:41] you meet but also in the quality.
[40:44] So it's not just the number but in this case the role you play and a word I want to use is opportunity.
[40:50] That's opportunity is the the river is that group has to offer opportunity for people to also be involved and that creates um that creates social connection as well.
[41:01] And so we talked about this.
[41:03] So loneliness so loneliness is more on the subjective part.
[41:06] It is a feeling.
[41:10] It is it is what you are dealing with inside that is not easy to to to um to to show.
[41:18] So let me read what is in the literature.
[41:21] A subjective distressing experience that results from perceived isolation or inadequate meaningful connections where inadequate refers to discrepancy between what you expect between uh between what you pref what you expect or prefer and your actual
[41:42] you expect or prefer and your actual experience.
[41:45] Let me use this example couple of examples.
[41:47] So you are in a crowd like us when you are coming you had expectation that you were going to meet some people you're going to discuss oh what did you think about it and let's say you left and you maybe somebody talked to you but your expectation was that you were going to have more people say hi to you and so it leaves you like I I just didn't feel welcomed.
[42:13] I just didn't feel like I belong.
[42:16] So belonging is actually an important world here as well.
[42:19] The second one is surface level uh uh communication.
[42:27] Surface level communication. And this really happens in a place of low trust.
[42:34] When in you are in a place where you are tense, people don't really want to like you know there's this underlying block of trust is not there.
[42:40] You know you can
[42:42] of trust is not there.
[42:44] You know you can talk about the weather, oh the birds, talk about the weather, oh the birds, the wind, but nobody wants to dig deeper.
[42:47] the wind, but nobody wants to dig deeper into.
[42:49] into How are you doing? How is your child?
[42:52] How are you doing? How is your child? How what is going on in your life?
[42:53] How what is going on in your life? Because nobody really wants to do that.
[42:56] Because nobody really wants to do that. And this surface level communication can.
[43:00] And this surface level communication can if it happens for a long time because.
[43:03] if it happens for a long time because when you meet somebody in the airport.
[43:04] when you meet somebody in the airport, you don't go into that detail, right?
[43:06] you don't go into that detail, right? But if you are in a place let's say a.
[43:08] But if you are in a place let's say a prayer group and everybody's having.
[43:10] prayer group and everybody's having unanswered unspoken prayer and.
[43:13] unanswered unspoken prayer and everybody's like going over the surface.
[43:15] everybody's like going over the surface and in a long time you you just don't.
[43:17] and in a long time you you just don't feel that connection or at work.
[43:20] feel that connection or at work everybody's nobody's talking about their.
[43:22] everybody's nobody's talking about their kids they are talking about oh like this.
[43:26] kids they are talking about oh like this Paul's great but when it comes to like.
[43:28] Paul's great but when it comes to like intimate stuff nobody really shares.
[43:30] intimate stuff nobody really shares surface level and that leaves people can.
[43:33] surface level and that leaves people can leaves people not feeling that I'm.
[43:35] leaves people not feeling that I'm connected to this as well.
[43:38] connected to this as well. Social media.
[43:40] Social media can also cause loneliness as well when
[43:43] can also cause loneliness as well when you see everybody doing everything out
[43:46] you see everybody doing everything out there and you just don't feel like you
[43:48] there and you just don't feel like you have that opportunity because there's
[43:51] have that opportunity because there's one thing you will have.
[43:53] It's basically one thing you will have.
[43:53] It's basically you against the world and everybody's
[43:56] posting the best part of your life and
[43:58] for some reason all your of your life
[44:01] doesn't measure to the best part of the
[44:03] lives people are and so that can create
[44:06] a level of uh loneliness as well and
[44:10] it's is it true or not that's not an issue but that is what you are feeling
[44:12] at that point.
[44:14] The next one is emotional disconnection in marriages or
[44:18] relationships.
[44:20] So physically together, emotionally distanced.
[44:24] It's not just marriages.
[44:26] It's any relationship where you know a lot of times trust has been
[44:31] broken and people can't really be
[44:33] themselves.
[44:36] They they just have to be there.
[44:37] They they are there for the
[44:39] paycheck.
[44:41] That's that's an example for work where things are like not right.
[44:44] work where things are like not right.
[44:46] They just they are there but they are not really there in a marriage as well.
[44:49] And in other other um environments as well.
[44:56] This can be an issue and then being misunderstood or unable to express yourself that is painful.
[45:01] You know, you have ideas but really you like hey maybe this idea we should do it that way and oh okay and then people move on.
[45:10] How do you feel when that happens?
[45:13] You feel like you it's like it's apart from being disrespected it just feels like you are not needed.
[45:19] you are not and so it gives you feel that even though they are people you may not feel that you belong you are become lonely as well and so
[45:28] these are some things that we want to um think about so what are the those are the definitions so what are the current trends so a 2022 study showed that only 39% of adults in the US said that they felt very connected to others 39%
[45:48] felt very connected to others 39% less than half of All Americans who were surveyed said they they feel belong.
[45:51] less than half of All Americans who were surveyed said they they feel belong.
[45:55] So the other half are telling us that they don't feel belong.
[45:58] the other half are telling us that they don't feel belong.
[46:00] And that's a big number.
[46:03] And half of US adults report experiencing loneliness with some of the highest rates among young adults.
[46:05] And half of US adults report experiencing loneliness with some of the highest rates among young adults.
[46:08] And so that's important that we kind of pause and ask the young the young people, how are you doing?
[46:11] highest rates among young adults.
[46:13] And so that's important that we kind of pause and ask the young the young people, how are you doing?
[46:16] and ask the young the young people, how are you doing?
[46:19] like friendship and and we will get to that as well.
[46:22] we will get to that as well.
[46:24] It's a maybe a little too small but basically this this is basically um a a meta analysis looking at several things.
[46:27] basically this this is basically um a a meta analysis looking at several things.
[46:30] meta analysis looking at several things.
[46:33] One is social isolation um how it increased over time.
[46:36] Most of this was measured in time.
[46:38] Household family engagements decreased several hours per month.
[46:41] Companionship has decreased 14 hours per month.
[46:44] just doing stuff that we just enjoy.
[46:47] We just like fishing.
[46:48] we just enjoy.
[46:48] We just like fishing.
[46:48] Let's go fishing.
[46:50] Let's go fishing.
[46:50] Those things are decreasing over time.
[46:53] Social engagement with friends are decreasing.
[46:55] Um non-household um engagements and basically across board people are not engaging and they are not connected to each other.
[47:03] each other.
[47:06] trust, which is really one of the fundamentals or the the the foundations of both of what we we talked about to have that connection.
[47:17] In a poll in 1972, 45% of Americans felt they could reliably trust others.
[47:24] When that was repeated in 2016, only 30 uh 30% said they could trust others.
[47:31] and looking at how society has become so polarized along political lines from that time.
[47:39] I wonder if they did a study in 2025 how what that will be.
[47:47] I can based upon all the other trends I can extrapolate
[47:49] all the other trends I can extrapolate that it will be even lower than that.
[47:54] that it will be even lower than that.
[47:56] So we know that the the the the trends are not good.
[48:04] But why care? Why care?
[48:08] Because of these things because we have we know that loneliness and social isolation increases the risk for premature death by 20 26% and 29% respectively.
[48:23] this in this study 26% supposed for loneliness and then the 29% was uh was for social isolation.
[48:30] Now you know the difference is not much but it's it's a big number.
[48:36] It's a big number that we can tell say that if we don't have this, you know, our lifespan is really shortened.
[48:43] And this was in the surgeon general's report.
[48:49] Basically, lacking social connection is as dangerous as smoking up
[48:52] Lacking social connection is as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.
[48:55] Let that sink in.
[48:58] Lacking social connection is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
[49:09] That's not cool.
[49:13] Well, it doesn't mean that you are smoking because you are lacking social, but the effect is what we are talking about.
[49:21] So, it I hope that it creates in your in your mind how bad it is when we are not socially connected.
[49:28] cardiovascular among all I'm a cardiologist we have a cardiologist we have another cardiologist interestingly among all the health outcomes the most effect was on on the cardiovascular system on the cardiovascular so the heart but also the the the other organs and here they found out that in 29% of patients um 29% increase in heart
[49:55] of patients um 29% increase in heart disease risk.
[49:56] disease risk when patients had loneliness.
[49:59] when patients had loneliness and also a 32% risk of stroke when
[50:03] and also a 32% risk of stroke when patients had loneliness.
[50:05] These are not small numbers and so these are important reasons why we have to talk about it and
[50:09] reasons why we have to talk about it and this paper just came in last week.
[50:12] This paper came last week and basically this
[50:16] paper came last week and basically this paper looked at um social social um disconnection
[50:19] disconnection and and um had valve disease.
[50:23] And what they found was that in this in this study loneliness but not social uh isolation.
[50:24] Remember we talked about both loneliness and social isolation.
[50:28] But loneliness predicted cardiovas uh having your heart disease becoming very degenerated or
[50:31] becoming very calcified to the point where some uh you you may get to a point where your heart valve cannot open.
[50:35] And this is actually very important
[50:57] And this is actually very important because we only talk about cholesterol,
[51:00] because we only talk about cholesterol, we talk about hypertension, but we
[51:02] we talk about hypertension, but we really rarely talk about this.
[51:05] But this really rarely talk about this.
[51:08] But this is the the the end result of of loneliness as well.
[51:10] loneliness as well.
[51:13] Hypertension. This study did the if when people have social support, they found
[51:16] people have social support, they found out that um 36% there's a 30% lower risk
[51:20] of high blood pressure those who had support your blood pressure reduced.
[51:22] And so if you want to if you have hypertension, this is a actually a an
[51:25] important thing. Being in in in healthy social circles is an important thing
[51:26] that we can be in to lower our risk and other health outcomes.
[51:29] Now we can't talk about everything else but other health outcome diabetes also there is an
[51:32] increased risk when you when you don't have who have social disconnection there
[51:35] are infections as well people that have uh social disconnection they get
[51:39] infection easily and they also we also realize that they also have usually have
[51:57] realize that they also have usually have a weak immune system which now also a weak immune system which now also causes more infections as well.
[52:02] And so causes more infections as well.
[52:05] And so these are all health um effects that we these are all health um effects that we see as well.
[52:09] Brain health, see as well.
[52:11] Brain health, chronic loneliness and social isolation increases the risk of de developing dementia by 50% in in adults like 50%.
[52:20] dementia by 50% in in adults like 50%.
[52:23] And so that's a big number.
[52:24] So that's an important reason why we we need to talk about it.
[52:26] And mental health and this one is really like a cycle.
[52:29] It's like a two things.
[52:31] It's like a chicken and egg thing.
[52:34] So people with depression and anxiety,
[52:36] anxiety, they tend to to have social isolation,
[52:41] social isolation and loneliness.
[52:43] And also having social isolation and loneliness can cause can lead us into depression and anxiety.
[52:48] And if nobody breaks a a cycle, then it's basically we have a a cycle that feeds on itself.
[52:52] Now
[52:58] have a a cycle that feeds on itself.
[52:59] Now we are depressed and now we don't want to talk to anybody.
[53:01] Now we don't want to talk to anybody.
[53:03] Now we don't want to talk to anybody and now we getting more depressed and so this is a place where we want to intervene.
[53:06] Somebody needs to step in to help us with this.
[53:11] So social connection influences health through multiple pathways.
[53:14] So we're going to just quickly talk talk about some of them.
[53:16] So one important way is the biology and a very important one is the stress hormones.
[53:17] So when we have social disconnection, our stress hormones start increasing.
[53:21] Cortisol and and all the other like you know um stress hormones increase just by just being by.
[53:24] So if we measure um and and several studies have measured that that increases as well and so and it does also affects our gene expression the way that the genes are expressed as well.
[53:27] The second one is um um uh psychology and and here we said globally adults rate their social relationship
[53:59] adults rate their social relationship with family and close friends as the most important source of meaning, purpose and motivation in their lives.
[54:05] And so when this is not there, you know, we are low on hopefulness, low on resilience, we don't feel safe as well.
[54:13] And all those go back to number one increases stress and increases inflammation in our bodies as well.
[54:20] And also social connection provides increased opportunity for support.
[54:24] That's reducing the likelihood of perceiving challenges situation as stressful because if we think it's very stressful and is chronic, we have chronic inflammation and that doesn't help as well behavior.
[54:38] So people are far more likely to to be physically active if they appear exercise.
[54:45] So when we are connected with people and remember we we talked about the quality of the relationship is important in social connection when the quality is good it affects behavior as well um
[55:00] good it affects behavior as well um physical activity which Dr. Ben is going
[55:03] physical activity which Dr. Ben is going to talk about nutrition which Dr. Brian
[55:06] to talk about nutrition which Dr. Brian Sh is going to talk about sleep,
[55:08] Sh is going to talk about sleep, smoking, treatment and and and the way
[55:10] smoking, treatment and and and the way we process and um we will also hear
[55:13] we process and um we will also hear about that.
[55:15] So everything is really is in a cycle.
[55:19] So this is um the end of this presentation.
[55:22] We are going to take like a five minutes break.
[55:25] I hope everyone has one of these and as a group
[55:29] we will like you know kind of like talk about it.
[55:31] If you happen to have your kids spouse close by, you can sit by them and maybe chitchat a little bit
[55:33] about it.
[55:36] If you happen to have your kids spouse close by, you can sit by them and maybe chitchat a little bit whilst we are taking a break or but if
[55:38] whilst we are taking a break or but if you also want to sit close somebody or
[55:41] you also want to sit close somebody or if you want to just reflect, take one
[55:42] if you want to just reflect, take one home and talk with your kids and your
[55:44] home and talk with your kids and your family about it, you can do that by
[55:46] family about it, you can do that by yourself as well.
[55:48] But you are encouraged to to do what is um like you feel
[55:50] comfortable with.
[55:52] Thank you so much.
[55:54] Yes.
[55:54] Go ahead.
[55:54] Yes.
[55:54] Go ahead.
[56:12] Thank you so much.
[56:21] Very good and I think that's a very good good and I think that's a very good question and I have all the others uh my question and I have all the others uh my next slides is going to go over that.
[56:38] So next slides is going to go over that.
[56:40] So I will I will very good question is very important but it's in the next slide so I'm going to save it for that.
[56:44] I'm going to save it for that.
[56:46] Yes.
[56:49] Okay. At this time let's take a quick minute break.
[56:54] if you want a second.
[57:11] I need them to turn it off.
[01:03:11] First of all,
[01:03:14] First of all, pencil.
[01:03:18] You raise your hand.
[01:03:42] One quick announcement.
[01:04:03] All right.
[01:04:06] Right.
[01:04:06] Can I add that to it as well?
[01:04:08] Just in case my mic slips off.
[01:04:08] Okay.
[01:04:10] Sorry about that.
[01:04:12] that.
[01:04:12] Yes.
[01:04:15] Oh okay.
[01:04:17] Oh okay.
[01:04:17] Okay.
[01:04:20] Okay.
[01:04:20] Thank you so much for staying.
[01:04:20] And so this session is going to be shorter.
[01:04:25] Um this session is going to be shorter.
[01:04:25] Um it's going to be interactive and um it's going to be interactive and um hopefully it will be helpful for for all of us to be able to um address this important issue.
[01:04:34] So moving towards social connection we are moving away from um disconnection at this point.
[01:04:42] So who really should be should be involved in going from social disconnection to social connection?
[01:04:50] It should be everybody.
[01:04:52] It should be everybody.
[01:04:52] It should be families.
[01:04:55] It should be schools.
[01:04:56] It should be workplace.
[01:04:58] It should be the government level because it's government level because look at what we have a lot of I cited a lot of information from the guidelines.
[01:05:04] Um it should be health care providers.
[01:05:07] It should be community organizations, faith communities like us.
[01:05:08] We all have a part that we can play.
[01:05:14] us. We all have a part that we can play.
[01:05:17] Okay. So the first few I will go through quickly and then we'll get to this and we can talk about it.
[01:05:22] So like I said we are we are going to not talk about national level and state level too much.
[01:05:28] We're going to deal with the rest of these. So as schools what what can schools do?
[01:05:34] Uh schools can develop a strategic plan for school connectedness and so um social skills with benchmark training.
[01:05:41] Schools can build social connection into their healthcurricular uh implement socially based education techniques and create supportive environments as well.
[01:05:51] And now I didn't go to the details but they are very innovative ways that schools can do that.
[01:05:55] For example, if you have a steam fair and one of your questions is well, how can our students, you know, creates help create an environment of connection?
[01:06:09] Now they can come up with so many brilliant ideas that is mo moving from social disconnection to social
[01:06:15] from social disconnection to social connection and community.
[01:06:18] So students you can think about ways where you can also help as well.
[01:06:25] workplace.
[01:06:29] So and the workplace is an important place because we spend so much of our time here now as as good as remote work work um work is it has its disadvantages as well and we have to recognize that as well.
[01:06:41] So make social connection a strategic priority in a workplace at all levels.
[01:06:47] Work um work parties and work like you know lunches and all those things are very important and you know that away from the everything else that is like the numbers and the actual work are important.
[01:06:59] Creating practices and work culture that allows for people to connect and at one another as a as whole people.
[01:07:07] And this is the way that the quality of the interactions creates a culture that makes people want to connect as well.
[01:07:12] See, my partner is here and I told him not too long ago, would I want to go to
[01:07:16] not too long ago, would I want to go to him if I need something?
[01:07:18] I think he can help me probably, right?
[01:07:20] So, those are all important that things that we can do.
[01:07:24] So, put in place policies that protect workers ability to nurture their relationships outside of their work.
[01:07:29] If they basically want you to be at work the whole time and they are basically not helping you to connect, it's going to drain you and it's going to cause you know issues.
[01:07:40] Um as well consider the opportunities and challenges posed by flexible work hours and arrangements as well.
[01:07:47] They are helpful but at some point you need to go in and connect with your colleagues and and things like that.
[01:07:53] Hi.
[01:07:56] So community based organizations like ourselves like a mosque like a temple like all the other places social connections needs to can can thrive there.
[01:08:04] So advance public education and that is what we are doing here.
[01:08:09] Create opportunities and space for inclusive social connection and that is what what I I mentioned.
[01:08:16] You have to be intentional to create that opportunity.
[01:08:19] intentional to create that opportunity.
[01:08:23] And so I could say that oh maybe strategically we are a large church so
[01:08:24] strategically we are a large church so we going to be intentional in forming
[01:08:27] we going to be intentional in forming smaller groups and do that and do that.
[01:08:29] smaller groups and do that and do that.
[01:08:32] That way we have smaller units.
[01:08:32] You want to create opportunity.
[01:08:34] You want to create um space.
[01:08:37] You want to encourage it.
[01:08:41] That way everyone feels that they belong because belonging is an important
[01:08:43] part of the equation as well.
[01:08:45] And foster a culture of connection in the broader
[01:08:47] community by highlighting examples of
[01:08:50] healthy social connections and also
[01:08:52] leading by examples.
[01:08:54] So we are going to take this if you are not a parent or caregiver you can still
[01:08:57] do it because you probably are a mentor.
[01:08:59] you probably have a somebody who looks up to you and so think about that and
[01:09:02] see how you can foster that.
[01:09:05] You may be a teacher, you may be um you know you we are all we are caregivers in in some
[01:09:08] way.
[01:09:10] So let's look at that.
[01:09:12] You have that and I want us to follow along and
[01:09:21] that and I want us to follow along and um Phil I I want to do mine too and so.
[01:09:23] um Phil I I want to do mine too and so I'll see how me my wife and I we match.
[01:09:26] I'll see how me my wife and I we match um on on on those skills.
[01:09:29] So I want us to to all do it together.
[01:09:31] So let's do it together.
[01:09:34] And at the end of it, I want one or two people, this is purely voluntary.
[01:09:35] um to say, hm, this is an area where I think I'm strong.
[01:09:39] This is a an area where I think I can improve on.
[01:09:41] This is just voluntary.
[01:09:44] I'm not going to call anybody because um you know, we want everybody to feel comfortable.
[01:09:48] So, so invest in your relationship with your child or loved one by recognizing that strong secure attachments are protect protective and foundational where.
[01:09:50] investing in your relation with your child.
[01:09:52] You know how how do you think you are doing?
[01:09:55] So put let's let's answer that.
[01:09:58] How are we modeling healthy social connections including constructive conflict resolution, spending time together and maintaining relationships with the family, friends and neighbors?
[01:10:24] with the family, friends and neighbors?
[01:10:27] So, how are we doing that or how are you doing that?
[01:10:29] And so, you can have yours your your
[01:10:32] Oh. Oh, sorry.
[01:10:37] One is low, five is best.
[01:10:41] Not at all. um somewhat like in a and then three is in the middle.
[01:10:43] Four is, you know, I think is good.
[01:10:45] Five is like great.
[01:10:48] So it's on the scale of I'm sorry I it's it's low to high.
[01:10:51] One one is low lower than five.
[01:10:54] So let's let's that.
[01:10:56] Okay. And then number three, help children and adolesccents develop strong, safe and stable relationship with supportive adults as grandparents, teachers, coaches, counselors and their mentors.
[01:11:12] How are you doing that in your environment with your let's say your kids or your mentors?
[01:11:17] Are you actively working on on something like that?
[01:11:22] So let's move on. encourage are you and
[01:11:24] So let's move on.
[01:11:27] Encourage are you and how are you encouraging healthy social connection with peers through friendships and participation in structured activities like sports and community programs or through like like you know um playing with their neighbors and and all that.
[01:11:40] How are you intentional in doing that?
[01:11:44] Being attentive to how young people spend their time online, delaying social media use and prioritizing inerson connection building.
[01:11:53] How do you think you've done so far?
[01:11:57] And you know, and and this is going to be your starting point to where you want to get to.
[01:12:03] Identifying and reduce behaviors and experience that increase risk of social disconnection, including bullying, excessive or harmful social media use.
[01:12:14] So you know I have you are you are you actively trying to look for these things that may be causing dysfunction or you haven't paid attention to it and this is
[01:12:25] haven't paid attention to it and this is an area where you think you can improve.
[01:12:27] an area where you think you can improve and identify.
[01:12:31] and identify talk to your children regularly about.
[01:12:32] talk to your children regularly about social connection to understand.
[01:12:33] social connection to understand loneliness and isolation. reduce stigma.
[01:12:36] loneliness and isolation. reduce stigma and create space for sharing because the.
[01:12:38] and create space for sharing because the the kids may be experiencing this.
[01:12:41] the kids may be experiencing this without without being able to put a name.
[01:12:44] without without being able to put a name to it. So being able to talk to them.
[01:12:46] to it. So being able to talk to them about what loneliness means, what.
[01:12:49] about what loneliness means, what isolation is is number one reason why.
[01:12:53] isolation is is number one reason why people commit suicide is because of.
[01:12:56] people commit suicide is because of isolation and loneliness. And what.
[01:12:58] isolation and loneliness. And what happens is that after there's loneliness.
[01:13:00] happens is that after there's loneliness or so um um um this a lot of parents are.
[01:13:03] or so um um um this a lot of parents are not even aware that their kids felt.
[01:13:06] not even aware that their kids felt lonely or something sometimes is through.
[01:13:08] lonely or something sometimes is through their written notes that they left.
[01:13:10] their written notes that they left behind and so how are you actively.
[01:13:12] behind and so how are you actively screening with your kids? How do you.
[01:13:14] screening with your kids? How do you feel that you know you are doing with um.
[01:13:16] feel that you know you are doing with um with this?
[01:13:19] Looking out for warning signs of.
[01:13:21] loneliness and social isolation such as.
[01:13:23] loneliness and social isolation such as increased time alone, excessive time.
[01:13:26] increased time alone, excessive time online, limited interaction with your friends.
[01:13:28] limited interaction with your friends.
[01:13:30] Hey, why not playing with your friends?
[01:13:31] No, I just want to be by myself.
[01:13:33] It's okay to retrieve some time to spend um quality time um by yourself.
[01:13:37] But is this becoming a pattern where you see that your kids are just online?
[01:13:39] they are just in their room and they are really not actively engaging and having fun with other kids.
[01:13:45] And then are they connecting uh connect you you to helpers like counselors um and this may not apply to everyone but how are you doing when you when you see that as well.
[01:13:55] So this is for parents and caregivers or mentors and this is purely voluntary.
[01:14:01] If somebody wants to share just a reflection of looking at this where they think they are doing great, where they think they could do better and and anything you can share AJ or somebody who with a mic can you know share with us that way we can see what other people think.
[01:14:28] Anybody wants to to have any volunteers.
[01:14:31] Anybody wants to to have any volunteers that would like to share how they think.
[01:14:33] that would like to share how they think they're doing on the first there.
[01:14:37] they're doing on the first there.
[01:14:37] No takers.
[01:14:37] No takers.
[01:14:41] No takers.
[01:14:41] No takers.
[01:14:41] We won't call on anybody.
[01:14:42] So, if there's no tickets, that's good.
[01:14:44] Okay.
[01:14:47] Everybody's shy today, sir.
[01:14:47] That's okay.
[01:14:47] They're afraid that you're going to get reflections.
[01:14:50] We want now, if you were to offer $100 right now, you might have some volunteers.
[01:14:55] That's okay.
[01:14:55] So, that's okay.
[01:14:57] But please take it home.
[01:14:59] spend some time with your kids and or your spouse or you know your kids and see how you can improve that if you saw areas you need to improve.
[01:15:07] So let's go to the next one which is all of us each individual.
[01:15:19] Okay again one being the least and five being you know the best.
[01:15:25] Understanding the power of social connection.
[01:15:27] Are you trying to how are you understanding the
[01:15:28] trying to how are you understanding the power of social connection and the power of social connection and the consequence of social disconnection by learning how structure, function and quality impact relationships, health and wellbeing.
[01:15:37] What was your understanding before coming in here?
[01:15:41] What was your understanding?
[01:15:42] You can rate it um you know one to five and that should be a starting point for you to delve into with your spa with yourself with your because you don't want to do social connection assessment and improvement by yourself as well.
[01:15:56] You want to do by yourself but also with in connection with other people as well.
[01:16:00] But what was your understanding um of it of the function which is the number uh sorry the structure the function and quality as well.
[01:16:10] Investing time in nurturing your relationships through consistent, frequent and high quality engagements.
[01:16:17] Take time each day to reach out to a friend or family member.
[01:16:19] How do you think you are doing when it comes to something like that and trying to build um you know the structure and also you
[01:16:31] um you know the structure and also you know the quality of it as well.
[01:16:38] How are you doing when it comes to minimizing distractions during conversations to increase the quality time you are spending for example avoiding checking your phone during meals important conversation and family time how are you doing with that I would tell you mine mine is not good and that's something that I I would definitely want to improve on.
[01:17:03] seek opportunity to serve and support others including family co-workers has friends, mentors or your community.
[01:17:11] Forming community is not a one-way street uh streak.
[01:17:13] It's not always going to come to you.
[01:17:15] Sometimes you need to, you know, go out and and do things.
[01:17:19] So, how are you in seeking opportunity to serve others including your family, your co-workers, friends or members, seeking for ways to be helpful?
[01:17:28] Sounds like what something that Jesus would do, right?
[01:17:33] something that Jesus would do, right?
[01:17:36] And then let's talk about being be responsive, supportive, and practice gratitude, strengthening relationships and social bonds.
[01:17:46] When somebody does something for you, do you show gratitude?
[01:17:51] Because guess what? When you show gratitude and you show respectful, the people are more likely to to come back.
[01:18:00] How how intentional are you in and expressing gratitude when somebody does something for you?
[01:18:06] actively engage with people from different backgrounds and experiences to understand to expand understanding and relationships.
[01:18:17] So someone who is maybe in a wheelchair, someone who is younger than you, someone with a different ethnic background, how do you think you are doing?
[01:18:25] Because that expands the quality of your relationships as well.
[01:18:32] participating in social and community
[01:18:34] participating in social and community groups, fitness, fitness, fitness groups, fitness, fitness, fitness groups, religion, religious groups, groups, religion, religious groups, hobbies, professional services.
[01:18:38] How um hobbies, professional services.
[01:18:41] How um how are you doing that?
[01:18:45] How are you how are you doing with reducing practices that lead to disconnection, including excessive social media use, unhealthy relationships, and too much screen time in general?
[01:18:47] How are you doing with that?
[01:18:59] and seeking help during times of loneliness or social of isolation by reaching out to family, friends, counselors.
[01:19:03] Do you seek support?
[01:19:04] And this this I think I was talking to my my wife and like Ben sometimes this can be very cultural like you know in my culture in men you don't like to seek help.
[01:19:12] It's not very macho. is not very masculine and so like oh maybe you should seek help outside uh here with friends and it's like I don't want to share my stuff of course in everything should be built on trust um but do you
[01:19:35] should be built on trust um but do you actively seek help when you need to?
[01:19:37] actively seek help when you need to build uh community outside of your home?
[01:19:39] build uh community outside of your home as well?
[01:19:43] open with your health care providers?
[01:19:45] open with your health care providers about signal life changes to um in your about signal life changes to um in your in um and and basically being able to share with them as Well, you know, how do we how are we doing that?
[01:19:54] Okay. And do we how are we doing that?
[01:19:56] And the last one is making time for civic engagements as well.
[01:19:58] And so, this is something that you can do by yourself.
[01:20:01] And I'm going to mention um for for physicians, I didn't put it here, but physicians number one that we the things that we can do is number one is that we need to recognize risk factors in people that we are seeing.
[01:20:07] Um the older we we get um we get and we have spouses that are not with them.
[01:20:19] Um you know widowhood can be one one one one risk factor for loneliness social isolation.
[01:20:24] Um people of different sexual orientation tend to feel very lonely as well.
[01:20:30] And so you need we can be you know we can be empathetic and um and also um talk to
[01:20:38] empathetic and um and also um talk to people like u like that.
[01:20:40] people like u like that.
[01:20:40] people with chronic illnesses, people going through cancer treatment, people with mental health issues, depression and so these these are risk factors.
[01:20:51] However, it's it's not limited to this.
[01:20:54] So um there are um there are um tools like you know um tools that we can use UCLA 3 it's like a assessment tool that can be used one is called alone is also an assessment tool that we can use as well but just basically asking these three things structure function and uh structure function and the third one is well who can help me the quality of this so you know how many people you know what is the are you are you a single Are you you know how many do you have neighbors that you talk to and all those that can be helpful and then we can talk about the quality of um talking about like you know you know if you needed help right now who would you call do you have somebody that you call number three
[01:21:38] have somebody that you call number three will be you know what how do you feel in your relationship.
[01:21:41] do you feel safe in your relationship.
[01:21:42] um how's it you know all those so those are very important skills but they are alone and other screening tools that we that can be used as.
[01:21:46] So this one anybody wants to share their reflection on maybe one area that they think they are doing well or just one area that they think they need improvement on and to create some somebody raise their hand.
[01:21:51] Your hand right now.
[01:22:11] Nobody wants to to Okay, go ahead.
[01:22:13] We have so much.
[01:22:16] There we go.
[01:22:18] Yes.
[01:22:22] There we go.
[01:22:25] My weakness of course is media because it's I I'm I'm a widow.
[01:22:27] So with that, sometimes when you're at home alone, that's what you have.
[01:22:30] But I try to force myself to connect and that has been um something I have to put in my mind to forcibly connect, but it it's
[01:22:39] mind to forcibly connect, but it it's easier when I go out.
[01:22:40] The first time I do did it, it was overwhelming, but after that, it's it's gotten easier.
[01:22:46] Thank you so much for sharing.
[01:22:49] Thank you so much for sharing with us.
[01:22:51] Thank you.
[01:22:54] Anyone else brave enough to share?
[01:22:55] I think there's someone who's brave.
[01:22:57] Yes, that's um Yes.
[01:23:02] Here we go.
[01:23:05] Okay. We're new to Texas.
[01:23:09] So, and then my husband got sick and then someone said you should do the walk with the doc.
[01:23:13] So, we go walk with the dock.
[01:23:15] The doc starts talking about being ill and how important it is to have social connections.
[01:23:18] So we now we go to game night and he's trying to help the kids learn how to play pingpong and we go to meetings like this to meet new people and we are almost happy we're here.
[01:23:21] We haven't found people to help us
[01:23:39] Here.
[01:23:39] We haven't found people to help us yet but we're we're getting there.
[01:23:42] Yet but we're we're getting there.
[01:23:45] Thank you so much for for um Where do you mind if I asking what state did you move from?
[01:23:48] Move from?
[01:23:50] Okay, we're Army Bratz.
[01:23:51] Okay.
[01:23:53] So, we started out in New York and then the next place was New Jersey.
[01:23:57] The next place was Maryland and Texas.
[01:24:02] Texas.
[01:24:05] Thank you so much for sharing with us.
[01:24:06] I would take one more if somebody else wants to share with us.
[01:24:09] All right. One more here.
[01:24:15] I'm coming. I'm coming.
[01:24:21] Okay.
[01:24:25] Okay. Mine is um the very last one uh civic engagement.
[01:24:30] Uh you know, we've been hearing that our water bill and our electric bill is going to go up and they always say that we're going to have a town hall or or a speaking uh where you can talk about
[01:24:41] speaking uh where you can talk about your where you can talk about your um
[01:24:45] your where you can talk about your um the situation and and that's something
[01:24:47] the situation and and that's something I'm gonna start doing because I don't
[01:24:49] I'm gonna start doing because I don't want to pay more
[01:24:51] want to pay more number one and then also I think it'll
[01:24:54] number one and then also I think it'll help me to come out of my show.
[01:24:57] Thank you so much for sharing. I think one a
[01:25:00] child some I I saw a child raised their hand and I would love to hear that.
[01:25:02] Do we see another hand somewhere?
[01:25:05] Did you wanted to say something?
[01:25:09] Okay.
[01:25:13] Well, thank you so much for being here.
[01:25:17] Thank you so much for going on this adventure with us.
[01:25:18] I think this is a very important topic.
[01:25:21] I have learned a lot myself.
[01:25:24] Things that I can practically, you know, work on with my family.
[01:25:27] I hope that you have learned something.
[01:25:29] Come tomorrow, we will have several speakers who will delve into specific areas of social connection.
[01:25:31] and I I'm really um I'm really hopeful that
[01:25:43] I I'm really um I'm really hopeful that you'll be blessed by coming today.
[01:25:45] Thank you, AJ. Over to you.
[01:25:47] All right. Again, thank you so very much.
[01:25:53] I hope that you got something out of tonight.
[01:25:55] Um we have much more planned for you tomorrow.
[01:25:58] Please tell your friends um and tell your neighbors, tell even the people you don't like.
[01:26:04] Uh that helps with the social connection as well.
[01:26:06] um to come on out tomorrow.
[01:26:08] We have a full day uh as well uh planned for tomorrow.
[01:26:11] We also have a full day for Sunday.
[01:26:14] Well, not full day, but a partial day for Sunday.
[01:26:16] So, we have a full weekend.
[01:26:18] And the best part of all of it is that a well there's two parts that are great is one that you it's free, right?
[01:26:20] So, there's no charge.
[01:26:22] Two, there's free lunch tomorrow as well.
[01:26:25] Uh there's like a a healthy lunch thing going on tomorrow here.
[01:26:28] So, please come for that.
[01:26:32] And number three, I forgot the third thing that I was uh oh,
[01:26:44] third thing that I was uh oh, connection.
[01:26:45] Yes, the whole thing we're talking about tonight.
[01:26:47] The whole social connection.
[01:26:49] You can meet some new people.
[01:26:52] So, as we close tonight, before you leave, don't just run to your car because I know that's what we like to do.
[01:26:55] It's like, oh, it's over with.
[01:26:57] Let's leave.
[01:26:59] How about let's make a challenge to oursel to meet one new person before we go to our cars.
[01:27:04] Okay?
[01:27:07] Just one.
[01:27:09] And I'm not asking you to meet five, but somebody that you haven't seen before, just one person.
[01:27:11] And just introduce yourself.
[01:27:14] Don't just say, "Hey, I'm AJ."
[01:27:17] And ask them your name.
[01:27:18] Just try to find out where you coming from and how long you've been in San Antonio.
[01:27:20] And all those things.
[01:27:22] Do you have a dog?
[01:27:24] Do you have a cat?
[01:27:26] Do you have a monkey?
[01:27:28] What do you have?
[01:27:30] You know that you know in Texas, by the way, just as I told we're about to end, I promise you.
[01:27:32] Do you know there's more tigers in Texas than than like in any other place in the country?
[01:27:35] Like Yeah, it's crazy.
[01:27:38] Anyway, look it up.
[01:27:40] It's Google it.
[01:27:42] It's cool. Anyways, so as we close, we just want to close
[01:27:44] so as we close, we just want to close with prayer and then I'm going to let you kind of uh just mingle for a moment.
[01:27:49] All right, let's let's bow our heads.
[01:27:51] We thank you, dear Lord, for the information that we receive tonight.
[01:27:54] We pray that it's not just head knowledge, dear Lord, but that we would be able to put in practice the things that we've heard and we've learned.
[01:28:02] We ask for safe traveling mercy's home and for you to bring us safely back tomorrow.
[01:28:07] In your name we pray. Amen.
[01:28:10] Thank you again for coming out.

2026 San Antonio Preventative Health Conference - Friday, April 24, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj-JeuJjmGg

Summary

TL;DR — This video is the opening session of the 2026 San Antonio Preventative Health Conference. The host, AJ, welcomes attendees, provides logistical information, and introduces speakers. The session focuses on the critical importance of social connection for overall health and well-being, highlighting the epidemic of loneliness and its detrimental effects.

Key points

• The conference aims to educate attendees on preventative health, with a special emphasis on social connection.

• Speakers Dr. Brian Schwarz (cardiologist) and Dr. Ben (physician) share their experiences and insights into health challenges and preventative measures.

• Dr. Ben discusses the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, defining social connection by its structure, function, and quality.

• The negative health impacts of social disconnection are detailed, including increased risk of premature death, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and mental health issues.

• The session explores various pathways through which social connection influences health, such as biology, psychology, and behavior.

• Practical strategies for fostering social connection at individual, family, school, and community levels are discussed, encouraging active participation and intentional relationship building.

Takeaway — Social connection is a fundamental human need with profound impacts on physical and mental health, and actively cultivating strong relationships is crucial for well-being.