Loneliness Declared as Public Health Emergency in California County; Experts Blame COVID Pandemic

On January 30, the San Mateo County at San Francisco Bay Area of California officially passed a resolution declaring that loneliness is a public health emergency.

Loneliness: a Public Health Crisis

Based on a local report, the Board of Supervisors made a unanimous voting decision. Supervisor David Canepa explained in a post on X that the San Mateo Country became the country's first to declare that loneliness is a public health crisis. Canepa adds that loneliness leads to great impacts that can even be likened to smoking a pack of cigarettes in a day.

The supervisor also calls for California to establish the position of a "minister of loneliness." He notes that this would aid those who are silently suffering to restore vital connections they had lost in the course of the pandemic.

Previously, the UK and Japan had appointed ministers of loneliness.

Dr. Vivek Murth, the US surgeon general, also posted about the vote on X. He explains that when he released his advisory on loneliness, he noted what can be done to boost connection. He expresses gratitude to San Mateo County for becoming America's first to recognize that loneliness is a public health crisis.

Previously, the surgeon general noted that loneliness could result in poor health outcomes, such as depression, heart attack, or early death.

Clinical and program director Dr. David Campbell from Recover Together Bend, which is a mental health and addiction treatment institution in Oregon, expresses that he agrees that loneliness should be declared a public health crisis. He shares that in America today, electronic devices and floor space are being traded for community and friendships. He further notes that loneliness is a public health emergency that could lead to dire mental and physical health consequences.

The doctor warns that those who are experiencing high levels of loneliness could also face other consequences,such as obesity, dementia, heart disease, substance abuse, reduced life satisfaction, cognitive decline, and premature death.

He recommends that, to battle loneliness in a world that is becoming increasingly digital, it is necessary to reevaluate relationships with social media and the digital space, boost mental health awareness, strengthen communities, improve systems for social support, and encourage civic engagement.

ALSO READ: Loneliness in Older Adults Detrimental to One's Health, May Result to Shorter Life

Dangers of Loneliness

When the pandemic started, California became the first state in the US to release a stay-at-home order on March 19, 2020.

According to a February 2023 Gallup poll, roughly 17% of US adults self-reported feelings of loneliness the day before. Canepa also notes that this rate is higher in San Mateo, as 2022 survey data revealed that 45% of its residents were struggling with isolation and loneliness.

Canepa also notes that in San Mateo, older residents take up a large share. Individuals who are 65 years old and older make up over 18% of San Mateo's population. Several of these residents felt especially isolated in the pandemic.

Several studies have noted serious health consequences that are linked to loneliness. These include a heightened risk of depression, anxiety, dementia, stroke, and heart disease.

A study from November also found that those in the UK who lived alone and who did not have any visits from friends or family had a 39% higher likelihood of premature death compared to those who got daily visits from loved ones. A 2010 analysis also found that the presence or lack of social relationships had a greater impact on death risk compared to obesity.

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