Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee BITESIZE | Why Friendships, Community and Compassion Matter for Our Health | Dr Julian Abel #174
Apr 15, 2021
Dr. Julian Abel, a recently retired consultant in palliative care, discusses the incredible health benefits of compassion, friendships, and community connections. He highlights a project in Frome, Somerset, aimed at combating loneliness and improving overall health. Julian shares inspiring stories of how social relationships can transform lives, such as the recovery journey of an individual nourished by community engagement. He emphasizes that compassion can be more potent than medication, advocating for small acts of kindness to foster a caring society.
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Kathy's Transformation
- Kathy, a businesswoman, developed severe rheumatoid arthritis, confining her to a wheelchair and devastating her life.
- Through a health connector, she found community support, regained her health and happiness, and formed lasting friendships.
Connectedness and Wellbeing
- Dr. Chatterjee highlights that connectedness can reduce pain, impacting physical health alongside medical treatment.
- He emphasizes the importance of joy and fulfillment, often overlooked in medicine, as crucial aspects of human wellbeing.
Frome's Success
- In Frome, emergency admissions dropped 30% through compassion-based community interventions.
- These interventions, focused on building social connections and support, yielded groundbreaking measurable improvements in population health.