On Wednesday, August 7, YOSHIKI met with Dr. Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States. The topic of the discussion was "Promoting social connections and supporting mental health."
Dr. Murthy is a top doctor in the United States, serving as the 21st Surgeon General of the United States. He has been working on various public health issues, with "supporting mental health issues caused by loneliness and isolation" as his top priority. In recent years, he has raised the concern that due to the influence of social media, young people are increasingly feeling alienated and lonely, which has become a global social problem.
Meanwhile, YOSHIKI has also been involved in activities such as donating $100,000 to support mental care for people in the music industry in 2021. This time, YOSHIKI accepted this special invitation for a discussion during Dr. Murthy's first visit to Japan.
In their talk, they discussed a variety of topics, starting with why they have both been working on mental health for so long, the importance of sharing our pain, and the current issues that young people face. YOSHIKI, who has launched a foundation to support children in need, spoke about his own childhood, including his father taking his own life, and said, "Helping others also helps yourself. That's why I continue to support others. I also make it a point to make a public announcement when I support or donate. By doing so, more people, including my fans, will know that there are people who need help, and this helps to expand the circle of support."
In addition, the topic of how to interact effectively with technology such as social media and AI was brought up in a lively discussion, as YOSHIKI himself has been keeping a close eye on the topic, including the AI development he is currently undertaking in his recently announced innovative fan community, "YOSHIKI+."
YOSHIKI said, "I sometimes receive messages from young fans on social media and in fan letters about the difficult experiences they are going through. Sometimes I myself am torn apart by social media, so I can't help but empathize."
Dr. Murthy explained the current situation of young people, saying, "Young people are drowning in negative news, and have come to believe that there is no hope for the future. In the United States, the suicide rate among young people is also rising sharply, and it is said that feelings of isolation and negative news are also major factors. From now on, we need to increase the amount of time away from technology and understand the importance of face-to-face interactions with people again. I believe that we should create opportunities to talk to people who are important to us, even if only for 15 minutes a day."
Along with this, YOSHIKI also shared his thoughts on social media based on his own experiences: "I've been the recipient of slander on social media and it really hurts me. I think it's only a small percentage of the total, but I can't ignore it. That's the dark side of social media, and when I see that side, even if it's just a few, I feel like I'm being controlled by the darkness. But I also realize that there is a bright side to social media. When my mother passed away some time ago, I received millions of messages on social media. It was a big shock, but I'll never forget how much love there was and how much support it gave me."
Towards the end of the conversation, the topic turned to human relationships and love.
"I have treated terminally ill patients, and the closer a person is to the end of their life, the more they talk about human relationships, not money or things. The most important thing in life is love," Dr. Murthy said, as YOSHIKI performed a piano rendition of "Forever Love," a song about eternal love. Dr. Murthy was overcome with emotion as he paid tribute to YOSHIKI, saying, "I felt true love from the melody. I believe that calling someone on the phone to ask if they're OK and creating beautiful music have the same healing effect. YOSHIKI is truly a healer."
Finally, Dr. Murthy asked YOSHIKI, "I want to talk about 'hope'. What gives you hope?" YOSHIKI responded, "I'm grateful for every moment. I'm already blessed just to be alive in this world. As I've said many times before, I feel that love is the most important thing. Even though there is a lot of talk about AI, I want to prove the greatness of humans and the greatness of love. It's not an obligation, but if my actions can have some kind of impact, I will use my power as much as possible. I hope the world will become a better place." He concluded the conversation by saying, "Nothing is impossible, I think anything is possible. That's my motto, and I think that attitude will help people."
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy
The
21st U.S. Surgeon General, confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2021. As America's top doctor, he promotes the health and well-being of all Americans and addresses important public health issues, issuing advisories on the "Youth Mental Health Crisis," "The Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health," "The Loneliness and Isolation Epidemic," and "Burning Out in the Healthcare Worker Community." He is also the first U.S. Surgeon General to issue a framework on mental health in the workplace and to host a podcast ("House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy") that explores ways to build more connected and meaningful lives with guests and listeners. As Vice Admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commission, Dr. Murthy oversees more than 6,000 dedicated public health workers and serves disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. Dr. Murthy grew up in Miami, earned his bachelor's degree from Harvard, and earned his medical doctorate from Yale School of Medicine. He earned his Master of Business Administration from the Yale School of Management and served as the 19th U.S. Surgeon General under President Obama.
Vice Admiral (VADM) Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA
https://web.archive.org/web/20170420151456/http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/about/biographies/biosg.html
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