Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider

Well, I want to zoom out for a moment here.

You have talked about how public trust in medicine and science has eroded.

It's certainly a topic that I am focused a lot on myself.

What do you think that we've misunderstood about trust?

Well, before we wrap up here, I'm curious, I'd love to imagine what could be different.

So from your perspective, what would it look like if schools, if our workplaces, maybe even cities were actually designed with human connection in mind?

Oh, my goodness.

I was not expecting to be so moved during this conversation.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Vivek.

You're amazing.

I so appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective and your heart with us.

Beautiful.

Thank you.

My conversation with Dr. Murthy really puts into perspective how deeply connection shapes our health.

Our relationships buffer stress, they support mental well-being, and even influence how our bodies heal and recover.

But it also makes me wonder, on the extremes, what happens when connection disappears completely?

When being alone isn't a choice you make for a quiet weekend, but something that's forced upon you for days, weeks, or even years.

In today's TED-Ed lesson, psychiatrist Dr. Terry Coopers takes us into that reality and unpacks what happens inside the brain and body when isolation goes from peaceful to punishing, and why without human contact, even the healthiest minds can start to unravel.

It's a powerful look at how much we depend on one another and a reminder that caring for our mental and physical health means caring for our connections too.