Public health impacts all of us. We aim to help everyone understand these important issues and how we can work together to take action.
Current Priorities
The Surgeon General's Advisory on the Harms of Screen Use provides a straightforward summary of the latest research findings with recommendations to translate this information into action to better protect America’s children and adolescents from screen harms.
Social media use by young people is nearly universal, but evidence shows social media presents meaningful risk of harm to youth. While we cannot conclude social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents, there are immediate steps we can take to mitigate the risk of harm. Learn more about making social media safer for youth.
Far too many young people are struggling with their mental health and unable to get the support they need. Maintaining healthy children and families requires all of society—including policy, institutional, and individual changes in how we view and prioritize mental health. Learn more about how we can support and protect our youth.
This Surgeon General's Advisory highlights the stressors that impact the mental health and well-being of parents and caregivers, the critical link between parental mental health and children's long-term well-being, and the urgent need to better support parents, caregivers, and families.
Humans are wired for social connection, but we’re becoming more isolated over time. Loneliness and social isolation represent significant threats to individual and societal health and well-being. Social connection can lead to healthier, more prosperous and resilient individuals and communities. Learn more about how we can work together to advance social connection and improve our nation’s public health.
The Surgeon General's Advisory on Alcohol & Cancer states the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk, including cancers of breast in women, colorectum, and liver. Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States after tobacco and obesity.
