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Start with Hi!

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Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Start with Hi! Community Kickoff on November 20! 

Start with Hi!

What is the Start with Hi! campaign? 

Start with Hi! is a public awareness campaign to increase social connection in Bloomington, Edina and Richfield. 

The campaign was created in response to growing mental health concerns in our community, both locally and nationally. 

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory declaring loneliness and isolation to be an epidemic. Advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that require the nation’s immediate awareness and action. 

 

According to the Surgeon General, loneliness and isolation are associated with the following: 

  • The same increased risk of premature death as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. 
  • A 29% increased risk of heart disease and 32% increased risk of stroke.
  • Lower academic achievement by students. 
  • Worse performance at work, with a price tag of $154 billion annually for stress-related absenteeism. 
  • Among older adults, an increased risk of developing dementia by approximately 50%.
Campaign Goals
  • Increase awareness about the impact of social isolation and loneliness on health.
  • Provide residents with simple and effective tools to increase connectedness. 
  • Inspire the community to take collective action to support a culture of togetherness. 

Get Involved

Join us! Start with Hi! kicked off in November 2024, in connection with World Kindness Day on November 13, 2024. Here are some ways to get involved: 

  • Attend an official Start with Hi! event. 
  • Post a video clip or picture of yourself on social media with a message encouraging others to connect with someone else today through a simple “hi” or smile. Use the hashtag #StartwithHi. 
  • Take the Surgeon General’s 5-for-5 Connection Challenge (5 Actions for 5 Days).  
  • Take Bloomington Public Health's Community Mental Health Survey.
Contact Information

Contact Information

Public Health Division