Soul Brothers PROGRAM
Each month, participants will be given a new mailing address to send, preferably, a handwritten letter to another man in the program. Note that members are not necessarily paired with each other within the same month. So, while your member may receive a letter from you, they likely wrote and sent a letter to someone else. Below is an example of month-to-month pairings.
| Sender | Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 | Month 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam | Barry | Carlos | Devan | Eddy |
| Barry | Carlos | Devan | Eddy | Adam |
| Carlos | Devan | Eddy | Adam | Barry |
| Devan | Eddy | Adam | Barry | Carlos |
| Eddy | Adam | Barry | Carlos | Devan |
Together by Dr. Vivek Murthy
Humans are social creatures: In this simple and obvious fact lies both the problem and the solution to the current crisis of loneliness. In his groundbreaking book, the 19th surgeon general of the United States Dr. Vivek Murthy makes a case for loneliness as a public health concern: a root cause and contributor to many of the epidemics sweeping the world today from alcohol and drug addiction to violence to depression and anxiety.
The good news is that with awareness of the causes of our loneliness, comes creative solutions to help ourselves and those we love to create more connected lives. Together offers inspiring and encouraging stories of individuals and communities who are making great strides in helping us to understand that we are not alone.
As a spiritual organization for those who identify as men, Ohio Illuman cannot ignore how pervasive male loneliness is. Research continues to be released about causes of loneliness, its impact on personal health, family and social relationships, and ways to treat it. Data from 148 studies suggest the following about social connection and loneliness:
About one-in-two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness.
The percentage of Americans living alone increased from 13% in 1960 to 29% in 2022.
Time spent engaging with friends decreased from 60 minutes/day in 2003 to 20 minutes/day in 2020.
Only 39% of adults in the U.S. feel very connected to others emotionally as of 2022.
Social isolation among older adults accounts for an estimated $6.7 billion in excess Medicare spending annually.
Stress-related absenteeism attributed to loneliness costs employers an estimated $154 billion annually.
Loneliness and social isolation are associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death.
Help Combat Loneliness
Ohio Illuman is a group of men who engage in opportunities to heal themselves and others by being honest about their capacity to be a resource for other men. Knowing more about loneliness, men should only participate in the Soul Brothers program when they have the ability to fulfill monthly correspondence. We set this expectation to follow the advice of former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy to help heal and not re-traumatize individuals experiencing loneliness. Read More
Structure: The number of relationships, variety of relationships (e.g., co-worker, friend, family, neighbor), and the frequency of interactions with others.
Function: The degree to which others can be relied upon for various needs.
Quality: The degree to which relationships and interactions with others are positive, helpful, or satisfying (vs. negative, unhelpful, or unsatisfying).
If you, with an honest heart, feel you can commit to sending, preferably, one handwritten letter to a new member each month, please complete the following application.
Write in Style
$25.00
Approximately 42% of the cost goes directly to Ohio Illuman. Ohio Illuman is a non-profit organization. Revenue generated from your purchase is used to cover operating expenses and provide scholarship opportunities for events hosted by Illuman.