Start with Hi!

Note on gratitude tree

Bloomington Public Health staff tabling

Community partner NAMI tabling

Meals on Wheels offered chance to write a note to a homebound older adult

Attendees in event hall

Loneliness is an increasing problem for both youth and adults.

Thirty percent of adults in Hennepin County’s south suburbs (Bloomington, Edina, Richfield and Eden Prairie) say they sometimes, usually, or always feel lonely or isolated from others.[i]
In Bloomington, Edina and Richfield Public School Districts, students report decreases in their ability to build friendships with other people.[ii]

[i] Hennepin County Public Health, SHAPE 2022 Adult Data Book, Survey of the Health of All the Population and the Environment, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 5, 2023

[ii] Minnesota Student Survey Interagency Team. Minnesota Student Survey 2013, 2016, 2019 & 2022. Roseville, MN: Minnesota Department of Education, 2013-2022. Minnesota Student Survey data provided by public school students in Minnesota via local public school districts (or alternative education programs) and managed by the Minnesota Student Survey Interagency Team.

A quick interaction with another person can help decrease loneliness. It can also improve your physical health.

Interactions can be more than words – it can be something as simple as a smile, handshake or welcoming body language.
In a recent study, people reported an increase in happiness when they were asked to engage in easy interactions, like chit chatting with fellow commuters, having a brief conversation with a coffee shop barista or just making eye contact with other people. (Star Tribune, February 9, 2024)
When people smile, it triggers the release of three good hormones: dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. (University of West Alabama, Psychology and Counseling News, June 6, 2019)

We can all help promote social connection.

From individual actions to contributing to a culture of connection within your workplace or community, we can all help.

Businesses that create a culture of appreciation, where employees feel valued and recognized for their contributions, have employees who are more engaged, productive and experience less burnout.
Make it a priority to contribute to a culture of connection within your workplace.
Get involved in the design of your community – encourage walking and gathering spaces and other shared-use spaces to promote social connection.

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%.

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 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.

Start with Hi! information or activities will be available at these events:
• February 15, 2025: Winter Candlelight Trail and Community Night at the Bloomington Education and Visitor Center

Start with Hi!

What is the Start with Hi! campaign?

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

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:

Contact Information

Public Health Division