Practitioners of the emerging architectural movement called trauma-informed design see buildings as “the first line of therapy.”

“Something inside me still lights up when I think about how to use the built environment to love and care for people, not just my family, but for people I might never meet, and the people that care for them.”

"We need to think beyond just the individual," Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University and a leading loneliness researcher, told Insider. "We often neglect the built environment."

Loneliness and social isolation are threatening millions of people; however, increasing connection can reduce risk.

The places we live can exacerbate our sense of isolation and loneliness.

Concrete design strategies—like universal accessibility, incorporation of nature, and shared spaces—can foster social health.

Partnering with Social Health Lab’s founder, Kasley Killam, MPH from Harvard University, to discuss Designing for Urban Connection as a part of the World Happiness Week events, hosted by Togetherness Hub!

In a time of hyper connection and communication, many of us report feeling lonely and detached, and there is strong evidence that this has a toxic effect on our health and happiness. This panel will discuss what’s driving increases in social isolation and loneliness (hint: it’s not just technology) and examine scalable strategies — some unexpected — that lead to social environments that promote meaningful connections. The trick is to think not only about places where communities are formed IRL, but the people who gather there and the shared experiences that keep them coming back. Huge opportunities await entrepreneurs who can leverage this knowledge to build a future marked by connections that boost our collective health.